Nepal’s Health Ministry in Disarray After Fire Destroys Headquarters

Nepal’s Health Ministry is struggling to function after a fire destroyed its headquarters in Kathmandu nearly 10 months ago. The ministry’s administration is currently scattered across three temporary locations, making coordination and communication a significant challenge.

Health Minister Nisha Mehata and her secretariat are currently operating from a small room in the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, while Health Secretary Dr. Vikas Devkota is working from a temporary tin-roofed structure in the Nepal Army’s Narasingh Dal Battalion premises. Some departments and employees are also working from the Nepal Health Research Council building.

The ministry’s employees are facing difficulties in coordinating with each other, and even finding each other, due to the scattered locations. ‘It’s like searching for a person before searching for a file,’ said one employee. ‘We are working in a multiple location model.’

The ministry’s spokesperson, Dr. Sameer Adhikari, acknowledged that the current situation is not ideal, but claimed that the ministry’s regular work has not been disrupted. However, he could not provide a clear answer on when the ministry would be able to move into a single building.

The ministry’s temporary office in the tin-roofed structure is also facing challenges, particularly during the monsoon season. The area becomes flooded, making it difficult for employees to move around, and the sound of rain on the tin roof makes it hard to conduct phone calls.

Employees are also facing difficulties in working in the cramped and poorly equipped temporary offices. ‘There is no proper working environment,’ said one employee. ‘We have to work in a small room with limited space and equipment.’

The ministry’s problems are not limited to its employees. Hundreds of service seekers visit the ministry every day, but they are not provided with a proper waiting area or seating. Many are forced to stand for hours, waiting for their turn.

The situation is a reflection of the challenges faced by Nepal’s health sector, which is struggling to provide quality services to its citizens. The ministry’s inability to function effectively is likely to have a ripple effect on the entire health sector.