Kathmandu, June 2: The Ministry of Health and Population(MoHP) has directed all the hospitals to make the expenses caused for the treatment of the COVID-19 patients public.

The Ministry has instructed the hospitals to give the information through websites and notice board within seven days.

Chief of the Quality Assessment and Monitoring Division at the Ministry, Dr Madan Kumar Upadhyay directed the government, private, cooperative and community hospitals and health institutions to make this information public within a week through the decision of their respective Board of Directors, Governing Committees and authorized body.

He revealed that the Ministry’s this directive has come forward in response to public complaints that several health institutions were taking exorbitant treatment fees from patients. He said, “It is the right of every citizen to know the amount required for the treatment of the patient while it is the legal and moral duty of every health institution to make the cost of treatment of the patient public and transparent”

Likewise, the Ministry has urged the hospitals and health institutions to provide complete details of the fees, specifying the type of service provided by them.

The Ministry stated that several complaints have been received through the ‘Hello Government’ hotline service at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers. Various social media platforms have also showed that hospitals and health institutions have been charging excessive fees for oxygen, medicines and other medical supplies, increasing additional financial burden on the patient.

(With inputs from RSS)