Jul 14, Kathmandu - Kushbu Oli, Chief Whip of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), has raised concerns over Nepal’s healthcare infrastructure, specifically highlighting the state of burn treatment and the management of injured protesters. 

During a session of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, MP Oli criticized the government’s directives, describing them as publicity-focused and detached from ground realities. 

Oli questioned the official status of the directives from the Prime Minister’s Office to fully operate burn wards in various hospitals. She pointed out that no formal instructions had been received from relevant authorities and challenged the government to clarify whether such decisions had been made or not. 

She proposed transforming the Kirtipur Burn Hospital into a National Training Center, where healthcare workers across the country could receive at least a one-year or, at minimum, a one-month specialized training in burn management. Oli also called for establishing a nationwide referral system to send burn patients from provincial hospitals to Kirtipur free of charge and promptly until local capacities are enhanced. 

Highlighting financial issues, she noted that the Rs. 80 million allocated for Kirtipur Hospital had been withheld since the previous government’s tenure. She urged the immediate release of these funds. 

Oli emphasized that having burn wards in 18 hospitals across Nepal is not enough; proper treatment requires skilled personnel, plastic surgeons, trained nurses, and essential equipment. Without these, lives cannot be saved. 

Drawing from on-site observations and discussions with stakeholders, she underscored the urgent need for systemic reforms in Nepal’s entire burn treatment framework, beyond just establishing wards.