Kathmandu. In a meeting with managers and operators of government, private hospitals and health institutions in Chitwan, Chief District Officer Ganesh Aryal directed them to make improvements. He also directed the doctors to behave sensitively to the patients coming to the health institutions and work within the rules of the hospital.

He said that the behavior of the doctors was not good, services like dialysis were provided without registration, ambulances were paying commission for bringing patients, and hospital waste was not managed. He said, “It is not necessary to shed tears when a patient dies, but doctors should be sensitive.” ’

He said that the hospitals have treated the patients of insurance and cash differently, have been conducting unnecessary tests, the treatment of the poor has not been good and the senior citizens have not been given exemption.

Stating that the quality of service of hospitals is not good, he said, “Quality behavior and style should be changed.” He gave the directive after listening to the hospital managers and operators at a ‘consultation on citizen health services in the district’ organized by the District Administration Office, Chitwan and the Public Health Office here.

On the occasion, Medical Superintendent of Bharatpur Hospital, Dr Bishwa Bandhu Bagale gave a presentation on the problems and weaknesses of the hospital and the need to be improved. Stating that the outpatient service at the hospital has improved extensively in recent period, he said that in the past, patients had to look for doctors but now the doctors are looking for patients in the hospital.

Dr. Shivaji Poudel, executive director of BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, said that the hospital has improved a lot and the statistics will prove it. He said that there is still a lot of improvement to be made and it will be easier to improve the hospital if the government pays the poor and insurance bills on time.

Nirmal Ghimire, chief of the Public Health Office, Chitwan, informed about the Act and said that the work has not been done as per it. Chairman of the Private Hospital Coordination Committee, Bikram Adhikari, said that although the private sector has invested a lot in health, the state has not paid attention to it. Operators of private hospitals and clinics put forth their grievances during the program. Similarly, the transport entrepreneurs suggested that the health sector should be improved.