Submit your Article

Both houses of the Federal Parliament are meeting today. 

The House of Representatives will meet at 11 am at the multi-purpose hall of the under-construction Federal Parliament Building in Singha Durbar. 

The agenda of today's meeting is to present a proposal to elect Member of Parliament Dol Prasad Aryal as the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Vice-President of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Aryal was elected unopposed as the Speaker on Friday. 

Similarly, the National Assembly will meet at 12:15 pm at Singha Durbar.

In  the meeting, the NA Chair will nominate and change the names of the members of different thematic committees. 

The Chair will also nominate the names of the members who will preside over the meeting in the absence of the Chair and Vice-Chair.

According to the agenda, Prime Minister Balendra Shah will present the annual report of the Women's Commission for the fiscal year 2081/82,  Padma Prasad Pandey, General Secretary of the Federal Parliament Secretariat, said. 

With the government strictly enforcing 10 percent free hospital beds for the poor and helpless patients, more and more healthcare facilities are now complying with this provision, said the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP).

Issuing a notice today, the MoHP shared that 32 hospitals, including 19 private and 13 public health institutions, are currently offering free healthcare services in the designated beds.

The government decided to strictly enforce the provision of at least 10 percent free beds in all hospitals to ensure that poor, helpless and abandoned patients have access to hospital services, and to prevent exclusion from medical care due to financial reasons. 

The decision also aimed to promote social responsibility across the healthcare facilities. 

It may be noted that the first cabinet meeting of the incumbent government on March 27 this year had unveiled its 100-point work plan for effective governance, incorporating six points that especially addressed health sector reforms.

Hospitals such as Bir Hospital, Sahid Gangalal National Heart Centre and Kanti Children’s Hospital have been monitored and guided for necessary improvements, according to the Ministry. 

The Ministry also stated that a draft Hospital Service Improvement Directive has been prepared. 

Furthermore, Burn wards are being established in hospitals in Tikapur, Mahakali, Seti and Kalaiya and similar services resumed at Janakpur Burn Treatment Center.

Similarly, emergency air ambulance services for remote hilly areas are being prepared while efforts are being coordinated with the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens to consider necessary amendments in the procedure relating to emergency air rescue for at-risk pregnant women and new mothers in remote areas, it was shared. 

Additionally, the Ministry has introduced QR codes and dedicated emails to collect complaints, with an integrated system now addressing grievances.

Rastriya Swatantra Party Vice Chairman DP Aryal has been elected unopposed as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Aryal was elected unopposed as he was the only candidate to file nomination for the post, Parliament Secretariat Speaker Ekram Giri said. 

Aryal filed his nomination paper at 11 am in Singha Durbar-based Federal parliament Secretariat on Friday. 

RSP Chairperson and lawmaker Rabi Lamichhane proposed the candidacy of Aryal while lawmakers Swarnim Wagle, Sobita Gautam and Sunil Lamsal seconded it. 

Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Vice Chairman Dol Prasad Aryal has filed his candidacy for the post of Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Aryal filed his nomination paper at 11 am in Singha Durbar-based Federal parliament Secretariat.

RSP Chairperson and lawmaker Rabi Lamichhane proposed the candidacy of Aryal while lawmakers Swarnim Wagle, Sobita Gautam and Sunil Lamsal seconded it. 

Candidates can file their nominations to the post of Speaker from 11 am to 2 pm today. 

Secretary-General of the Federal Parliament Secretariat, Padma Prasad Pandeya, shared that the names of candidates would be published at 2:30 pm in the order of registration of candidacies.  

A proposal seeking election of the Speaker might be presented in the meeting of the House of Representatives scheduled for April 5 for a decision.