TUHIN SHUBHRA ADHIKARY

In a major policy shift, the government has decided to take primary healthcare services in 12 city corporations and 23 municipalities from the Local Government Division and give them to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

While the health ministry is responsible for primary healthcare nationwide, the LGD has been providing the services in the city corporations and the municipalities under the Urban Primary Healthcare Services Delivery Project (UPHCSDP) since 1998.

The project was initiated to improve the delivery structure of essential primary healthcare services for urban residents, particularly women, newborns, and children, and to ensure access for the poor.

In a meeting on April 22, the Cabinet Division decided to transfer 192 urban primary healthcare centres under the areas to the health department to enhance coordination and service delivery, according to official documents.

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