Home Ministry forms panel to study emergency services

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Feb. 7: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) has formed a task force to study the issue of providing emergency services in an integrated manner.

An 11-member task force has been formed under the coordination of Bharatmani Pandey, Joint Secretary of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), to submit a concept paper and action plan within 15 days to provide integrated services such as ambulance, fire brigade, police and primary health.

According to a press note issued by the Ministry on Monday evening, the task force consists of a representative each from the Ministry of Home, Health, Communication and Information Technology, Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, Nepali Army, and two members each from the Armed Police Force Nepal and Nepal Police. 

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha's Information and Communication expert Vijaya Gautam is also a member of the task force. 

Nepal Police 100, Fire Brigade 101, Ambulance 102 and Traffic Police 103 are currently in use for emergency assistance services. 

Deputy Prime Minister Shrestha's Secretariat has said that the task force will study and make suggestions on the issue of operating all these emergency services through a single setup.