KATHMANDU: In an attempt to improve patient access to surgical procedures, Bir Hospital will begin a two-shift operation schedule the following week. During a regular conference on Friday, Ministry of Health and Population spokesperson Dr. Prakash Budhathoki confirmed this scheme. He noted that the necessary personnel, lab space, and medical equipment had been established to facilitate this expansion. 

Along with the increased surgical hours, the hospital will also enhance its MRI services. The new arrangements have significantly increased patient access to diagnostic imaging, allowing the facility to conduct up to 200 MRI scans per month. These programs aim to raise the standard and efficacy of the institution's entire healthcare offerings.

In response to the need for functional medical equipment, 17 federal institutions have repaired and reactivated 484 medical devices that were previously non-operational. Dr. Budhathoki emphasized that these renovations were made possible by the Health Minister's directives, ensuring that hospitals could continue to provide medical care.

The broader effort to strengthen healthcare infrastructure has included the deployment of additional personnel and the installation of additional laboratory equipment. The expectation here is that these will perhaps increase the diagnostic capabilities of the hospitals in question and reduce patient waiting periods for necessary medical testing.

As it supports the government's aim for expanded access to healthcare, Bir Hospital now expands surgical services. "The arrangements to run the hospital's surgical department in two shifts each day have all been made as per the direction from Health Minister Lokendra B. Chettri to ensure that more patients do not need to wait long to receive medical intervention," Dr. Budhathoki said. 

Now, this brings the hospital's MRI section to well above 200 patients a month, enabling much greater optimization of healthcare services. Moreover, in fulfilling the increased demand that patients have, Dr. Budhathoki also stated that increasing MRI capacity will hasten the diagnosis and treatment planning.

Additionally, he gave the public assurances on the efficacy and safety of the vaccines offered by the national immunization program. He addressed concerns by restating that all vaccines provided by the government are safe and still play a crucial role in public health initiatives.

 In an attempt to calm the protesting physicians' anxieties, the Ministry of Health and the Nepal Medical Association have come to a nine-point agreement. Dr. Budhathoki claims that this agreement would resolve outstanding issues and create a more stable healthcare system, which will ultimately benefit both the general population and medical professionals.

Also Read: Cervical Cancer Screening Camp Held in Kathmandu