Kathmandu, Dec. 2: The COVID-19 Unified Central Hospital (Bir Hospital) has launched the ‘National Teleconsultation Centre’ targeting COVID-19 patients. Prior to this, the facility was stationed at the Ministry of Health and Population.

The Centre technically supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO) came into operation at Bir from today.

Hospital’s officiating Chief Administrative Officer Dr Bhupendra Kumar Basnet said the Centre was launched to provide health counselling for COVID-19 issues via a telephone. One has to dial 1133 to get connected to the Centre and seek the service.

Medical professionals are there at the Centre to address the issues of infected. Mobile text service is also available for service seeker. Doctors will recommend the infected whether to stay at home or visit the hospital being based on the given health updates. The service is available for 24 hours in three shifts and each shift is handled by three health professionals: one doctor and two paramedics. It means that three individuals can seek Centre’s service simultaneously.

On the launching ceremony, WHO Representative to Nepal, Dr Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav said the Centre would be beneficial for those COVID-19 infected unable to visit the hospital.

The government had first launched the Centre at the Ministry on March 24, 2020