The Ministry of Health and Food Safety has issued the One-Stop Crisis Management Centre (OCMC) Program Operational Guidelines for FY 2083/84 to standardize services for people affected by gender-based violence. The document says OCMCs, first introduced in FY 2068/69, are now operating through 97 designated hospitals across Nepal’s 77 districts. The hospital list on pages 2–5 covers all seven provinces, including provincial, district, federal and health-science institutions.

Under the guideline, OCMCs must provide 24-hour services free of charge from a single location, coordinating health treatment with other necessary assistance. Target groups include women, men, children and gender and sexual minorities affected by gender-based violence, as well as pregnant women, persons with physical or mental disabilities, senior citizens and people affected by violence linked to conflict or disasters. Hospitals are required to operate the centres through a multisectoral coordination approach so victims can access treatment and related support without being sent through multiple disconnected systems.

The programme budget can be used for counselling services, medicines and treatment, emergency food and clothing, essential equipment, transport and ambulance costs, referrals to other hospitals, accommodation or support for accompanying persons where necessary, coordination meetings, public awareness activities and staff capacity-building. The guideline also allows limited additional payments for personnel from supporting agencies who provide services outside normal hours or on public holidays, subject to the prescribed local coordination process. Training is to cover gender-based violence management, clinical protocols and operation of the OCMC system.

The ministry has also strengthened accountability requirements. Designated health workers must regularly enter OCMC progress data into the online reporting system and protect user credentials and survivor confidentiality. Funds cannot be diverted to unrelated activities such as retaining additional contract staff or purchasing vehicles, and programme spending must undergo legal audit procedures. The expected result is a more coordinated system in which survivors receive timely, free and effective health, counselling, referral and support services while public awareness and coordination among responsible agencies improve.