Hospital sans doctors
The Himalayan Times
22 August 2019
Hospital
sans doctors
Federalism is now not new for us
considering its implementation in Nepal for the last almost 18 months. All the
three tiers of government are now fully functioning, however, with some
exceptions. They still lack of human resources, proper infrastructures and
adequate budget. They are also badly suffering from inadequate laws to fully
function due to unwillingness of central government to devolve power to
them. We have seen the provincial
governments time and again expressing their grievances to the Centre for not
showing seriousness towards the implementation of federal structure as
envisaged by the constitution.
We have seen that the Centre is
either finding difficulty in deputing its civil servants to the local and
provincial governments or hindering the process of recruiting their staff as
per their requirements. The recent action of the Public Service Commission (PSC)
to recruit staff from the Centre has been challenged by different groups and have
been expressing their grievances in the street. It has also been seen that the
government is trying to suppress their voices using forces. Is it the PSC
fulfilling its constitutional duty or violating the constitution? Why not let
the provincial governments recruit their staff as per their requirements
through their own PSC?
Having said all these, it was
another immature decision of the Centre to transfer doctors and other health
staff elsewhere without arranging for their replacement “Sindhuli Hospital without
doctors” (THT, Aug.20 Page 3). This is a gross irresponsible act of the Ministry
of Health and Population and may be, of Ministry of General Administration.
This has adversely affected day to day health services to be provided to the
visiting patients. This is another sheer violation of constitution undermining
the constitutional rights of the common people to get free and accessible
health services.
Rai
Biren Bangdel
Maharajgunj
