Nepal : The Okhaldhunga Community Hospital, established on March 14, 1962 by Dr. James Dick from Scotland under the United Mission to Nepal, with the aim of providing accessible healthcare to local citizens, is being considered to be designated as a primary service point through the initiative of Member of Parliament Ramhari Khatiwada, who represents Okhaldhunga and also chairs the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee.

Khatiwada initiated this effort because patients and service seekers at the Mission Hospital in Okhaldhunga have been facing various difficulties due to the unavailability of insurance coverage during treatment.

Since mid-June the hospital has lost its status as a primary service point. As a result, patients are now compelled to travel to the District Hospital in Rumjatar or the Primary Health Center in Raniban to access insurance-covered services.

Khatiwada held a special discussion with the Chairman of the Health Insurance Board, Mr. Chandrabahadur Thapa Chhetri, and Executive Director Dr. Raghuraj Kafle, urging them to reinstate Okhaldhunga Community Hospital as a primary service point. In the discussion, he emphasized the need to ensure that citizens from remote districts like Okhaldhunga can access insurance benefits in a timely, simple, and effective manner during treatment.

Although a decision was made not to designate community and private hospitals as primary service points, Chairman Thapa Chhetri of the Health Insurance Board stated that, considering the geographical challenges, services could be provided through coordination with local governments, and further discussions will be held on the matter.

Highlighting the need to address the delays, inefficiencies, and obstacles faced by the public under the current system, MP Khatiwada stressed the importance of strengthening coordination between local hospitals and insurance authorities. This initiative is believed to be a positive step toward making the health insurance system more people-friendly.