Health facilities urged to keep notice board mentioning action for manhandling health workers

Kathmandu / Oct 4: The Ministry of Health and Population has directed all health institutions across the country to keep a permanent notice board mentioning that action would be taken against those who manhandle and interfere with the safety of health workers.

The ministry has issued a notice today asking the health institutions to keep a permanent notice board at least six feet in height and four feet in width.

According to the ministry’s spokesperson Dr Prakash Budhathoki, the board should mention that activities like manhandling health workers, and padlocking and vandalism of health institutions are punishable as per the provision in Section 3 of the Safety of Health Workers and Health Institutions Act, 2066, and mention the provision of offenses and punishments mentioned in Section 15. The government is committed to taking action against those who manhandle and obstruct the security of health workers, he said.

An application can be filed in the respective institution or the district administration office or the Nepal Medical Council and the Ministry of Health and Population in case of the charge of negligence on the part of health workers, said the notice.

According to the Act, arson of a health institution is punishable by two to five years in prison or a fine of Rs 200,000 to Rs 500,000 or both. Similarly, beating up health workers or employees or vandalism of a health facility or any activities that damage a health institution is punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine of Rs 300,000 or both.

Similarly, encircling a health facility or affecting the treatment of patients or manhandling heath workers or employees is publishable by up to one year in prison or a fine of Rs 100,000 or both. RSS