Author: space4knews

Chetanaryan Acharya, Chief Minister of Lumbini Province, inaugurated a new hospital building in Sisne Rural Municipality–5, Rukum East. The new hospital started offering services with 50 beds, providing internal medicine, laboratory, X-ray, dental care, physiotherapy, maternity, and neonatal services. Health Minister Khem Bahadur Sara highlighted that expanding healthcare in remote areas is a priority and that the shortage of specialist doctors will be gradually addressed. The inauguration took place on Chaitra 29 in Rukum East.

Residents of the mountainous district of Rukum East are expected to face less difficulty traveling long distances for medical treatment. With the completion and operation of the new hospital building in Sisne Rural Municipality–5, Rukumkot, service delivery is anticipated to improve. The hospital now operates with 50 beds. Previously, services were limited to a basic structure, but with the expansion of both infrastructure and services, the level of care has improved significantly.

Chief Minister Acharya stated that expanding healthcare in remote areas remains the provincial government’s top priority. He also noted efforts to improve human resource management and pledged a gradual solution to the shortage of specialist doctors. Health Minister Khem Bahadur Sara confirmed that policies to strengthen service delivery in remote locations are actively being implemented. According to him, while doctors were previously reluctant to work in these areas, the situation is gradually changing.

Built with an investment of around NPR 160 million, the hospital now offers internal services, laboratory, X-ray, dental treatments, physiotherapy, maternity, and neonatal care. Approximately 100 patients receive treatment daily. Dr. Krishna Kharel, medical superintendent of the hospital, stated that patient demand has increased alongside service expansion. “Compared to before, services have become more accessible, and patient trust has grown,” he said. Since the federal restructuring, Rukum East became a separate district where health services were previously limited and operated with minimal resources. With the completion of the building, construction of which began in 2078 BS, the district will now have access to basic and some specialized healthcare services locally.

Prime Minister Balen Shah has adopted a policy of operating the government from Singha Durbar while using Baluwatar as his private residence. He has scheduled regular cabinet meetings at Singha Durbar during official hours from 9 AM to 5 PM. For security reasons, journalists and mobile devices are prohibited from entering the Prime Minister’s Office. The Vigilance Center is monitoring staff efficiency to ensure discipline in work. Dated 29 Chaitra, Kathmandu.

Former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli held senate meetings of ten universities at Baluwatar from Jestha 25 to 32, 2082. Scholars had even raised questions regarding holding meetings at the senate itself. On Bhadra 11, 2080, then Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ held discussions with all seven provincial chiefs at Baluwatar. During Prachanda’s tenure, significant talks and negotiations were conducted at Baluwatar.

Prime Minister Balen has initiated governance from Singha Durbar. He plans to work primarily from Singha Durbar except for formal programs. On Chaitra 26, he visited the Nepali military establishment in Kharipati, Bhaktapur, to honor officers who had completed training. To date, he has held discussions with members of parliament from all provinces except Bagmati.

Prime Minister Balen’s decision to govern from Singha Durbar conveys a positive message. Former administrator Sharadaprasad Trital commented, “Baluwatar is the private residence of the Prime Minister. Governance should be conducted from Singha Durbar.” Prime Minister Balen has invigorated his team for efficient performance and instructed employees to work with high morale.

In Jhapa’s Buddha Shanti Rural Municipality-3 on the Mechi Highway, a collision involving three motorcycles resulted in the death of Bhupendra Shrestha from Ilam. Four others were injured in the accident and are currently receiving treatment at Spines Hospital in Birtamod. The police have provided details including the license plate numbers and names of the motorcycle riders involved. The incident occurred on April 11.

According to the District Police Office in Jhapa, the motorcycle bearing registration number Pra 1–02–041 Pa 8987, traveling from Chaurali toward Budhabare, collided with the motorcycle Ko 31 Pa 9290, also heading in the same direction, and with the motorcycle Pra 1–01–012 Pa 7635 coming from the opposite direction. The police confirmed that the rider of motorcycle Pra 1–01–012 Pa 7635, 25-year-old Bhupendra Shrestha from Ilam Municipality-6, succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash.

Bhupendra Shrestha was taken to B & C Hospital in Birtamod for treatment, where doctors declared him dead. The injured include the rider of motorcycle Pra 1–02–041 Pa 8987, 27-year-old Manikumar Devkota from Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City-15, and his passenger, 27-year-old Anil Basnet. Also injured were the rider of another motorcycle, 29-year-old Nand Bahadur Magar from Jhapa Shivasatakshi-5, and 29-year-old Kamal Magar who was riding on the rear. All the injured are undergoing treatment at Spines Hospital in Birtamod.

March 13, Birgunj – A police officer died following an attack on Sunday afternoon in Ward No. 9 of Birgunj Metropolitan City. The deceased has been identified as 27-year-old Vikas Chaurasia, a resident of Mudli, Kalika Mai Rural Municipality-1, Parsa. Chaurasia, who was on leave from his duties with the Nepal Police where he held a position from the Saptari cadre, had come home prior to the incident.

According to the Parsa Police, a group of youths deliberately targeted and attacked him. Haribahadur Basnet, spokesperson for the District Police Office Parsa, stated that the attackers used sharp weapons and brutally beat Chaurasia. Upon receiving the information, police teams rushed to the scene and transported the unconscious Chaurasia to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Police reported that the altercation began as a minor dispute in a room where a family from Rautahat was residing temporarily, but escalated into a violent beating that led to Chaurasia’s death.

Four individuals involved in the incident have been apprehended at the scene by police, including three men and one woman. The deceased’s body has been sent to Narayani Hospital in Birgunj for postmortem examination. Authorities are continuing investigations to determine the motive and identify any additional suspects connected to the case.

The government has implemented public holidays on Saturdays and Sundays to reduce fuel consumption. The Ministry of Health has directed health institutions to operate services on Sundays and grant leave on the following day. After some hospitals closed OPD services on Sunday citing staff shortages, the ministry emphasized arranging health services as much as possible until new guidelines are established. Kathmandu, 29 Chaitra – In an effort to conserve fuel, the government declared public holidays on both Saturdays and Sundays across public sectors. Given the sensitive nature of the health sector, the Ministry of Health instructed institutions to provide services on Sundays and offer compensatory leave on the next working day.
However, several health institutions have not complied with this directive. Many hospitals closed outpatient department (OPD) services on Sunday, causing hundreds of patients to wait in line only to return home without service. The Nepal Medical Association (NMA) issued a directive stating that doctors were being treated as second-class citizens and, citing staff shortages and inadequate facilities, argued that providing services on Sundays was not feasible. Subsequently, the Ministry of Health released an additional statement on Sunday afternoon. The ministry urged all hospitals to ensure the provision of health services based on available manpower and workload until the new guidelines are finalized. The statement read, ‘Until the guidelines are prepared, placing the welfare of patients as the highest priority, all hospitals are requested to arrange health services as much as possible based on available staff and workload.’
Following the explanation by some hospitals and institutions that they cannot operate OPDs on Sundays due to manpower shortages, the ministry issued this directive. The ministry acknowledged its awareness of healthcare workers’ rest rights and stated that it will develop and implement a system through the new guidelines to balance the rights of healthcare professionals with patients’ rights to treatment. The ministry also expressed gratitude to hospitals that continue to operate OPD services on Sundays. Despite the cabinet decision to designate two public holidays per week, the ministry thanked those hospitals that maintain patient care, emphasizing that ensuring continuity of essential services like healthcare is the primary responsibility of all involved.

The asset declarations of Prime Minister Balendra Shah and his cabinet ministers have been made public by the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Kathmandu on March 12. On Sunday, the Office released the financial disclosures of Prime Minister Balendra Shah (Balen) along with other ministers. This announcement comes following concerns raised over the lack of transparency regarding asset details after the formation of the new government. To address these questions, the complete asset information of the Prime Minister and all ministers was disclosed on Sunday evening.

Health Minister Nisha Mehta has been found to possess 30 tolas of gold and 50 tolas of silver jewelry. According to the asset declaration made public on Sunday, Minister Mehta owns 7 aana of land in Saukhel, Kathmandu, and holds bank balances of NPR 723,535 and NPR 1 million in various accounts. Additionally, a branded i10 car valued at NPR 2.5 million is included in her assets.

The asset report indicates that the gold and silver items were acquired through dowry, gifts, and personal purchase. The sources of the minister’s land and other assets include her husband, salary, and loans. The bank balances are held in Machhapuchhre Bank with NPR 723,535 and Sanima Bank with NPR 1 million.

Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Sunil Lamsal, reportedly has 9 million rupees in bank savings according to his asset disclosure. The report also states that he owns 30 tola of gold and 50 tola of silver. Dated March 12, Kathmandu.

Minister Lamsal’s family members collectively possess a total of 31 kattha 25 dhur of land and 29 ropani of agricultural land across Rupandehi, Nawalparasi, and Syangja districts. Specifically, he owns a house on 1 kattha 10 dhur of land in Rupandehi; 10 kattha 15 dhur of land in Nawalparasi; and 7 ropani of farmland plus 22 ropani of fields in Syangja.

Rajendra Bajgain, a leader of the Nepali Congress, has decided to leave the party. Through social media, he stated, “Ultimately, I could not remain in Congress.” Bajgain expressed dissatisfaction with the party leadership and regret over the decision to reinstate certain memberships. Kathmandu, 29 Chaitra.

Writing on Facebook, Bajgain said, “Ultimately, I could not stay in Congress. Gentlemen hold manure in their hands, carrying a burden of grass on their backs. Genuine citizens with potential will come to know the truth later.” He has recently voiced his unhappiness with the Nepali Congress leadership.

He added, “I feel sorrowful over the decision to reinstate Kisunji’s membership; why was it necessary to re-register repeatedly? There was no justification for it. I have decided not to remain in a party that has lost its culture, history, and progressive path, and has become a crowd of confused minds.”

Bajgain alleged that special groups are engaged in a takeover campaign within the party, stating, “They are playing these games — if possible, they grab official authority by any means, and if not, they erect barriers of difficult stones to create a façade of data collection while secretly scheming to seize control of Congress by manipulating membership ‘DNA.’”