The order, issued under the Development Committee Act, 2013, establishes the Bharatpur Hospital Development Committee for the management and operation of Bharatpur District Hospital. The committee is chaired by a person nominated by the Government of Nepal and includes representatives from the relevant municipality or village development committee, District Development Committee, District Administration Office, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Nepal Red Cross, the local ward, and the health sector. A woman working in health services is also represented, while the hospital’s Medical Superintendent serves as member-secretary. Certain nominated officeholders have a two-year tenure.
The committee is responsible for the hospital’s overall management and operation, preparation of short- and long-term development plans, mobilization of financial and other resources, approval of the hospital budget, determination of service charges, and protection and maintenance of physical assets. It must also submit an annual report to the Government of Nepal and may undertake other activities necessary for hospital development. Meetings require at least 50% of members for quorum and must be held at least once every four months, with decisions generally made by majority vote.
A separate hospital development fund may receive government grants and salary allocations, revenue from hospital services, contributions from donor organizations and other lawful sources. The fund is operated through a bank account using the joint signatures of the Medical Superintendent and accounts chief, and money received for a specific programme must be used only for that purpose. The committee’s accounts are subject to audit under prevailing law, and the government may inspect its financial records at any time.
The order also allows the committee to appoint necessary employees, determine their service conditions, delegate selected powers and frame internal rules subject to government approval. The committee must communicate with the Government of Nepal through the Ministry of Health, and any directions issued by the government are binding on the committee.
