The Supreme Court (SC) has issued an interim order not to cut the budget of food and oxygen being provided to Bir Hospital, the oldest hospital in the country, by the Ministry of Health and Population. On Friday, a joint bench of Justices Hari Phuyal and Balkrishna Dhakal issued the order in the name of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health and Population.
A case was filed in the Supreme Court against the Bir Hospital on 11 January after the budget was sliced. The Apex Court, while hearing the writ on Friday, issued an order not to remove the budget as health is a sensitive issue concerning the people. Advocate Bimal Pokharel filed a case against the Ministry of Health and Population, Ministry of Finance, National Academy of Medical Sciences and Bir Hospital.
In the current financial year 080/81, the government has cut the budget by taking away not only the food facilities that the patients admitted to Bir Hospital are getting, but also the essential oxygen supplies.
After the higher authority did not release the budget, Bir Hospital has also prepared to cut the food it has been providing to the patients for years. However, there was a protest following the budget cuts of essential goods. Voice was also raised against the decision in the Good Governance Committee of the Parliament.
According to the hospital administration, feeding an average of 500 patients daily costs about 14 lakhs per month. About 1 crore 68 lakhs are spent on it annually. The government has allocated only 73 crore one lakh rupees to Bir in the year 080/81. No amount has been allocated for ration and oxygen gas cylinder this year. Bir Hospital has been providing meals and snacks to patients since 1947B.S.
