Two-day weekly off may add patient load

BY A STFF REPORTER Kathmandu, May 3: At a time when the service seekers of government hospitals are worried about two-day holiday, the Nepal Medical Association (NMA) has welcomed the government’s decision. 

Issuing a press statement, NMA has said that two-day holiday was a right decision as health workers were reeling under mental and physical pressure due to excessive work load. 

But as a service seeker, many patients are compelled to wait for months or years for a surgery at government hospitals. If the hospitals adopt two-day holiday rule, many patients whose condition is serious or who need emergency treatment would suffer. 

It will be unfair for service seekers and health institutions due to two-day weekend rule, said Dr. Dinesh Kafle, director at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital.  

“As a service provider, the health institution needs to contribute to the welfare of public,” said Dr. Kafle and added that it will be very unfair to those who have been waiting for surgeries for years for their turn. 

Being a referral hospital from across the nation, the hospital is performing 50 to 55 surgeries daily, said Dr. Kafle and added that the patient load would increase if two-day holiday is implemented. 

Many patients are in a queue for upto a year to undergo surgeries of gall stone, kidney stone and other health problems. If the government’s new decision is implemented, they would be compelled to wait even longer risking their health condition, added Dr. Kafle. “We need to think wisely and make the decision,” said Dr. Kafle. The two-day weekend will also affect the hospital. The closer of hospital means it will lessen the income of the hospital as patients will visit private institutions for tests including CT-scan or ultrasound or blood reports. 

The government hospitals of Kathmandu including TUTH, Bir Hospital, Patan Hospital and Kanti Hospital, among others, see overflow of patients on a daily basis. Around 2,000 patients visit these hospitals daily. 

Earlier, Minister for Health and Population Birodh Khatiwada had said that two-day holiday would not come into effect in health institutions. Minister Khatiwada had said that OPD service would not be halted during the added holiday. 

Dr. Sangita Kaushal Mishra, spokesperson at the MoHP said that the ministry is holding discussion regarding the issues with the concerned stakeholders. 

“The MoHP is yet to make the decision regarding the two-day holiday at the health institutions,” said Dr. Mishra and added that the hospital services should not be hampered due to the two-day weekend.  The government took the decision of two-day weekend and it will come into effect from May 15.