Minister of Health and Population Dr. Sudha Sharma Gautam has announced that the government is preparing to continue the PCL Nursing program immediately after the SEE examination.
Speaking at a program organized after the inauguration of the Trauma Center and Compounding Pharmacy at Bharatpur Hospital, she stated that the number of required staff nurses in hospitals is currently low, prompting the government to resume the PCL Nursing program.
Minister Gautam said, “We are working to allow large medical colleges and colleges with their own hospitals to run nursing programs after SEE.” She added that the government and the ministry plan to start the program even by adding a provision through an ordinance if necessary. The ministry is currently working on reforms in seven subject areas.
She shared that service-sector priorities include mental health, labor health, women’s health, and child health. Work is also underway to reform the health insurance system, improve medicine quality, simplify procurement processes, and make them corruption-free.
“We have prepared a report and are drafting an action plan. Results will be seen soon,” she said. Recalling that her first government job was at Bharatpur Hospital, she expressed satisfaction with the hospital’s progress.
At the program, former Bagmati Province Health Minister and Provincial Assembly member Uttam Joshi stressed the need for policy-level reforms to improve the health sector. “If we want to reform government hospitals, policy reforms are essential,” he said.
Chairing the event, Bharatpur Hospital Development Committee Chair Raju Paudel highlighted the current facilities and challenges at the hospital.
He stated that Rs. 110 million was spent on constructing the trauma center, and Rs. 25 million on equipment. The center has started with 15 beds, with a plan to expand to 50 beds in the coming days.
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