KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Balendra Shah has directed authorities to immediately advance plans to establish well-equipped burn care centers across all seven provinces of Nepal, while simultaneously strengthening burn wards in major government hospitals.

Speaking during a discussion with Vice Chancellors of various health science academies at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers on Monday, PM Shah emphasized the need for effective coordination among federal, provincial, and local health institutions to ensure timely, high-quality treatment for severe burn patients.

Highlighting that citizen-friendly health services remain a top priority, the Prime Minister also urged improvements in hospital sanitation, service delivery, and digital integration.

Furthermore, he strictly instructed the enforcement of a policy requiring private hospitals to allocate at least 10 percent of their outpatient (OPD) services for underprivileged and low-income citizens.

The meeting, which addressed issues ranging from medical education quality to land encroachment at academies, was attended by Vice Chancellors from Patan, Rapti, Pokhara, BP Koirala, and the National Academy of Medical Sciences.