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Minister for Health and Population Mohan Bahadur Basnet has directed the directors of various hospitals in Kathmandu Valley to ensure systematic health and medical services. He asked them to maintain quality health services to the common people. Minister Basnet made such a direction during a meeting with the directors of hospitals in the valley at his office on Monday. He reminded that 10 percent of hospital beds need to be allocated to the poor and helpless citizens. No sick one would be deprived of health service. The meeting was attended by the directors of Bir Hospital, Paropakar Maternity Hospital, Shukraraj Tropical Hospital, Kanti Children Hospital, Martyr Ganga Lal National Heart Centre, National Trauma Centre and Shukraraj Tropical and Communicable Disease Control Hospital.  

The National Concern and Coordination Committee of the National Assembly held a discussion on the auditing process, arrears, implementation status of the report of Office of Auditor General, problems, challenges and solution of auditing. Committee Chairman Dil Kumari Rawal Thapa said that they discussed the reasons behind growing arrears and measures to be taken for correction. "Fiscal discipline is essential to reduce arrears," she said, adding that issues such as policy and structural reforms, human workforce management, use of new policy, effective implementation of new technology was zeroed in during the meeting held with Office of the Auditor General (OAG). The Committee would direct the concerned bodies for reform after garnering suggestions to this regard, according to her. Lawmakers said commission-seeking culture of government employees, frequent transfer, and a huge amount released early as remuneration were some of the reasons behind increase in arrears. Lawmaker Kumar Dasaudi blamed the government for spending a huge amount of budget at the end of fiscal year. The OAG sought suggestions by the lawmakers on how existing legal arrangements could address the problems of arrears. The office chiefs must be made accountable to address this problem, they added. On the occasion, Acting Auditor General Ram Maya Kunwar stressed the need for reform from the very local level.  

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Puspa Kamal Dahal on Monday. Ambassador Chan reached Baluwatar at 9:30 am today to meet the Prime Minister. During the meeting, they discussed BRI projects and the recently concluded Dragon Festival in Pokhara. On the occasion, Prime Minister Dahal’s China visit was also discussed. Though the date has not been fixed, the Foreign Ministry and Chinese Embassy are preparing for the visit, a source said.  

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority filed a corruption case at the Special Court against Pradeep Dhakal, the then member secretary of the Pashupati Area Development Trust. The corruption watchdog on Monday filed a corruption case against Dhakal on the charge of illegally amassing property amounting to Rs 1.44 million. The Commission claimed that the property details he presented in accordance with the prevailing law while holding a public post are nonpareil and unnatural. In addition to that, the CIAA claimed that he acquired the property illegally by misusing the public post.