Govt instructs hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients without asking for deposits

Kathmandu / Nov 1: The government has instructed public hospitals to admit and treat COVID-19 patients without asking for deposits.

The Ministry of Health and Population has instructed all the government-owned hospitals across the country to treat COVID-19 patients without asking for deposits.

During a regular press briefing, health ministry’s Dr Jageshwar Gautam said that the ministry has also sought clarifications from the government-owned hospitals, which had asked for deposits from patients before admitting them. “The government treats those patients – who can’t afford hospital fees – for free,” said Dr Gautam.

Following the decision of the government not to bear the costs of COVID-19 treatment, hospitals had asked for deposits before admitting patients.

The government has decided to bear only the cost of treatment and PCR testing of frontline workers including differently-abled, single women, senior citizens, security personnel, and sanitization workers. They will also be tested only after showing COVID-19 symptoms.