KMC arranges 374 beds for helpless at 52 hospitals

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has arranged 374 beds at 52 hospitals for the free treatment of helpless and poor people.

The private hospitals are obliged to allocate minimum 10 percent beds and free treatment to the helpless and indigent people as per KMC's edict.

Public health inspector at Health Department of KMC, Dhanendra Shrestha, informed that, so far, 70 patients benefited from the scheme launched last February. Most of those receiving the service are from out of the capital city.

After the private hospitals flouted legal provisions, the KMC introduced a free treatment work procedure, 2080 and brought to strict implementation.

The KMC has also managed a system where the availability of beds, treatment services and other schemes at private hospitals can be checked online. Some of such indigent patients were discharged after treatment while some still undergoing treatment.

Shrestha further informed that most of such patients are suffering from ear, nose and throat (ENT) problems, and kidney disease, while some had respiratory and eye problems.

A hotline 1180 of KMC could be dialed to receive information about the treatment or for the service.