Jan 13, Kathmandu- The Ministry of Health and Population has issued a national guideline on patient referral. The guideline states that if a patient coming to a health institution cannot be treated at the same institution, they should be immediately referred to another health institution for further treatment.

In cases where treatment cannot be provided due to the lack of structure, equipment, specialist services, or other appropriate reasons, the services available at the institution should be provided and referrals should be made to other hospitals for further treatment.

In the case of patients who are in the emergency room and are admitted, the directive states that coordination should be tightened until they are admitted to another health institution by making the same health institution responsible. The directive states that a health institution should not refer a patient to another institution even though the services it should provide are available at its level, and that a health institution can refer a patient to the nearest and most accessible or higher-level hospital only if the services are not available.