Patients Rights Concern Nepal (PCRN)
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PCRNPatients Rights Concern Nepalबिरामी हक सरोकार नेपाल • Estd. 2026
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Educational Hub • बिरामी अधिकार निर्देशिका

Know Your Rights as a Patient in Nepal

In Nepal, healthcare is not an act of charity—it is a protected constitutional and legal right. Explore your essential entitlements under the Public Health Service Act 2075, the Constitution of Nepal, the Health Institution Operation Standards 2077, and the Nepal Medical Council Act 2020 (1964).

Download Printable Rights Handbook (PDF)Need Assistance with a Hospital Dispute?
Patient Right #1

Right to Full Medical Information

पूर्ण स्वास्थ्य सूचना तथा परामर्शको अधिकार

Public Health Service Act 2075 (2018), Section 11

Every patient has the right to understand their medical condition, proposed treatments, potential side effects, expected recovery, and estimated costs in language they understand.

What You Are Legally Entitled To:

  • Clear explanation of diagnosis, causes, and stage of illness.
  • Details regarding all possible treatment pathways, including non-surgical alternatives.
  • Transparent disclosure of known risks, success rates, and side effects.
  • Clear advance estimate of total treatment, medication, and hospitalization costs.
  • Right to receive explanations in clear Nepali or a local language without complex medical jargon.

Patient Verification Checklist:

  • Did the doctor explain what condition you have and what caused it?
  • Were you told about both the benefits and risks of the medicine or procedure?
  • Do you know the estimated cost before starting elective treatment?

Actionable Redress: What to do if this right is violated:

Request a formal sit-down consultation with the treating consultant or the Medical Superintendent. You have the right to request all explanations in writing on your clinical chart.

Statutory Citation: Public Health Service Act 2075 (2018), Section 11 & Nepal Medical Council (NMC) Code of EthicsQuestions? View FAQs ↓
Patient Right #3

Right to Emergency Healthcare

आकस्मिक स्वास्थ्य उपचार पाउने अधिकार

Constitution of Nepal 2072, Article 35(1)

Under the Constitution of Nepal, every citizen has the fundamental right to free emergency treatment. No hospital may deny life-saving emergency care due to inability to pay.

What You Are Legally Entitled To:

  • Hospitals (both government and private) are legally mandated to admit and stabilize any emergency patient immediately.
  • Treatment cannot be withheld or delayed pending advance deposit or payment.
  • Emergency patients cannot be turned away without initial triage, stabilization, and secure ambulance referral.
  • Immediate life-saving interventions take legal precedence over billing and registration paperwork.

Patient Verification Checklist:

  • Did emergency triage attend to you immediately upon arrival?
  • Was critical life-saving care provided without demanding upfront deposits?

Actionable Redress: What to do if this right is violated:

Denial of emergency care is a severe constitutional and criminal violation. Contact PCRN's emergency hotline or file an immediate report with the local District Administration Office (DAO) and Ministry of Health.

Statutory Citation: Constitution of Nepal 2072, Article 35(1) & Public Health Service Act 2075, Section 4Questions? View FAQs ↓
Patient Right #4

Right to Privacy & Confidentiality

गोपनीयता तथा व्यक्तिगत मर्यादाको अधिकार

Right to Privacy Act 2075

Your medical records, diagnosis, and physical examinations must remain strictly private. Examinations must be conducted with human dignity in screened private areas.

What You Are Legally Entitled To:

  • Physical examinations must be conducted in private rooms with privacy curtains or screens.
  • A female chaperone/nurse must be present during examinations of female patients by male practitioners.
  • Your health information cannot be disclosed to employers, media, or third parties without written authorization.
  • Medical records must be securely stored in electronic or physical hospital archives.

Patient Verification Checklist:

  • Was your privacy respected during physical examinations?
  • Were unauthorized individuals kept outside during confidential clinical consultations?

Actionable Redress: What to do if this right is violated:

Lodge a formal objection with the hospital's privacy officer or Medical Director. Breaches of privacy are actionable under the Right to Privacy Act 2075.

Statutory Citation: Right to Privacy Act 2075 & Nepal Medical Council Professional RegulationsQuestions? View FAQs ↓
Patient Right #5

Right to Refuse or Discontinue Treatment

उपचार अस्वीकार वा स्थानान्तरण गर्ने अधिकार

Muluki Civil Code 2074

Every mentally competent patient has the legal right to decline any recommended treatment, surgery, or medication after understanding the clinical implications.

What You Are Legally Entitled To:

  • Doctors must explain the medical consequences of refusal without coercion or punitive demeanor.
  • Patients have the right to leave a facility against medical advice (LAMA/DAMA) with their records.
  • Refusing a particular treatment does not forfeit your right to alternative or palliative care.
  • Medical practitioners cannot hold patients hostage or detain them over clinical disagreements.

Patient Verification Checklist:

  • Were your wishes and autonomy respected when discussing treatment choices?
  • Did the clinical staff explain what risks you face if you decline the procedure?

Actionable Redress: What to do if this right is violated:

Document the refusal formally on the hospital's Discharge Against Medical Advice form. Contact PCRN if the facility attempts to withhold your existing records or medicine prescriptions.

Statutory Citation: Muluki Civil Code 2074 & International Human Rights StandardsQuestions? View FAQs ↓
Patient Right #6

Right to Fair & Itemized Billing

पारदर्शी तथा वस्तुगत बिलिङको अधिकार

Health Institution Operation Standards 2077 (2020), Consumer Protection Act 2075

Patients are entitled to an exact, itemized invoice detailing each service, laboratory investigation, medicine, and bed charge before making payment.

What You Are Legally Entitled To:

  • Right to receive an itemized bill showing MRP for all medicines and consumables.
  • Ban on charging prices exceeding the government Maximum Retail Price (MRP).
  • No hospital may detain a patient, new mother, or deceased body due to unpaid hospital bills.
  • Mandatory 10% bed and service allocation for free treatment of indigent patients under Health Institution Operation Standards 2077.

Patient Verification Checklist:

  • Were you provided an itemized bill before payment rather than a lump-sum receipt?
  • Did medicine prices match the printed MRP on packaging?
  • Were you informed about the hospital's 10% free bed quota for underprivileged citizens?

Actionable Redress: What to do if this right is violated:

Hospitals detaining patients or corpses over unpaid bills violate Supreme Court of Nepal directives. Contact the local police, District Administration Office, and PCRN immediately.

Statutory Citation: Health Institution Operation Standards 2077 (2020), Consumer Protection Act 2075 & Public Health Service Act 2075Questions? View FAQs ↓
Patient Right #7

Right to Access Medical Records

आफ्नो स्वास्थ्य अभिलेख पाउने अधिकार

Public Health Service Act 2075

You have the right to receive certified copies of your medical records, diagnostic test reports, operation notes, and discharge summaries upon request.

What You Are Legally Entitled To:

  • Hospitals must provide discharge summaries immediately upon release.
  • Patients or authorized family members can request full certified copies of charts and lab reports.
  • Facilities cannot withhold investigative reports that the patient has already paid for.
  • Access to complete records is essential for seeking second opinions or filing grievance reviews.

Patient Verification Checklist:

  • Did you receive a detailed Discharge Summary upon leaving the facility?
  • Were all paid blood tests, X-rays, CT/MRI scans and biopsy reports handed to you?

Actionable Redress: What to do if this right is violated:

Submit a written application referencing the Right to Information Act to the Hospital Medical Records Department. PCRN can assist in drafting formal requests.

Statutory Citation: Public Health Service Act 2075 & Right to Information Act 2064Questions? View FAQs ↓
Patient Right #8

Right to Redress, Complaint & Fair Hearing

उजुरी, सुनुवाइ तथा क्षतिपूर्ति पाउने अधिकार

Nepal Medical Council Act, 2020 (1964), Public Health Service Act 2075

Patients harmed by clinical negligence, overcharging, or mistreatment have the legal right to lodge formal complaints with hospital grievance desks, NMC, and legal courts.

What You Are Legally Entitled To:

  • Every hospital must maintain a functional, accessible Patient Grievance Desk (गुनासो सुन्ने अधिकारी).
  • Right to file disciplinary complaints regarding physician misconduct or malpractice before the Nepal Medical Council (NMC).
  • Right to claim monetary compensation for medical negligence through Consumer Courts and civil tribunals.
  • Protection against retaliation or denial of future care when filing a legitimate complaint.

Patient Verification Checklist:

  • Is the hospital's Grievance Desk clearly signposted and accessible?
  • Was your complaint registered with an official tracking number or acknowledgment slip?

Actionable Redress: What to do if this right is violated:

Preserve all prescription slips, payment receipts, test results, and discharge notes. Contact PCRN for free guidance on filing complaints with the NMC Ethical Committee and relevant authorities.

Statutory Citation: Nepal Medical Council Act, 2020 (1964), Public Health Service Act 2075 & Consumer Protection Act 2075Questions? View FAQs ↓
Public Reference Material

Download the Official PCRN Patient Rights Pocket Guide

Carry this concise, plain-language document when visiting hospitals. Covers legal provisions under Public Health Service Act 2075, Health Institution Operation Standards 2077, and Nepal Medical Council Act 2020 (1964).

Download Handbook (PDF)
Legal Clarifications

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Patient Rights

Plain-language answers to everyday legal and practical dilemmas faced by patients in Nepalese healthcare facilities.

Have a Specific Hospital Rights Question?

Our advocacy team provides free informational guidance to help you navigate medical disputes, understand treatment consent, or request medical records.

Contact Our Patient Support Desk