Minister vows to make medical board accountable

Published On: September 3, 2016 12:40 AM NPT By: Republica  | @RepublicaNepal


KATHMANDU, Sept 3: The medical board of the National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS) recently recommended former President Dr Ram Baran Yadav to undergo treatment of his prostate cancer in the United States.

Doctors of the board concluded that Dr Yadav's treatment was not possible in Nepal and he needed treatment in the US.

Recommendation of the board is mandatory for former dignitaries to receive financial assistance from the government.
As per the recommendation of the board, the government has decided to provide Rs 6 million to former president Yadav.

A cabinet meeting held last week had also decided to pay for the former president's business class tickets to and from the US and provide him a daily allowance of US$300.

The government had earlier provided Rs 1 million to Dr Yadav after the same medical board recommended him to go to India for medical check-up, during which his prostate cancer was detected.

The aforementioned case is just a representative case of flawed recommendation by the medical board due to which the state coffer has lost millions of rupees unnecessarily.

Doctors in Nepal had claimed that the prostate cancer of the ex-president is quite common and can be treated in the country.

"Both diagnosis and treatment of the ailment of the ex-president Yadav is possible in Nepal," Dr Robin Joshi, a consultant Uro- Oncologist serving at Norvic Hospital, claimed.

Likewise, flawed recommendation of doctors is also reflected from a case in which police had arrested a renowned activist a few months ago. He was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Bir Hospital the same evening upon the recommendation of doctors, which posed hurdles in police investigation. The activist stayed in the ICU of the hospital until he got release order from court denying police the chance to investigate the issue. Due to flawed recommendation of the doctors, investigation agencies face obstacle to carry out their duties.

Organizing a press conference at the Ministry of Health on Thursday, Health Minister Gagan Thapa said that he will try his best to make the medical board accountable.  "I am of the view that doctors involved in the recommendation should be held accountable for the decisions they make and they have to take responsibility of wrong recommendations or recommendation made under influence," said Minister Thapa.

Meanwhile, Minister Thapa on Thursday inspected Bir Hospital and directed the officials concerned for improvement in the hospital services.


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