May 22: Most of the major hospitals in the Kathmandu Valley will be operational on Sundays despite the government's decision to grant public holiday for two days a week. The hospitals decided to operate on Sunday as well, stating that the patients will have to suffer in absence of treatment if they are closed for two consecutive days. The government decided to give leave on Saturday and Sunday, starting from May 15 in a trial phase with the objective of reducing fuel consumption. The government has fixed office hours on weekdays from Monday through Friday between 9:30 am to 5:30 pm.

The major hospitals in the valley including Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Civil Service Hospital, Kanti Children's Hospital, Sukraraj Tropical and Communicable Diseases Hospital, Shahid Ganga Lal Heart Center, Paropakar Maternity Hospital have decided to operate on Sundays as well. However, Bir Hospital will be closed on Sunday, as per the government's decision to grant two days leave.

Dr Bhupendra Basnet, director of Bir Hospital, said that the hospital will be closed on Sunday as per the decision of the government. Basnet said, “We are operating the hospital as per the decision of the government. The emergency services of the hospital are operating 24 hours a day. We decided to close the hospital on Sunday as not many critical patients visit the outpatient department.”

Similarly, the director of Ganga Lal Heart Center, Dr Chandramani Adhikari said, as the center is an independent health institution, it will remain open on Sunday as well, considering the treatment of the patients, regardless of the government's decision. About 600 patients visit the center daily for treatment.

The director of Sukraraj Tropical and Communicable Diseases Hospital, Dr Manisha Thapa said that all services including outpatient services will be operated regularly even on public holidays. Ram Bikram Adhikari, information officer of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, informed that the hospital will continue to operate as before.