KATHMANDU, August 6: The system of having to submit a lot of documents while applying for the electronic vaccination certificate needed for going to work abroad has drawn criticism. Targeting Nepalis who want to go to work abroad, the Ministry of Health and Population has made a rule to submit eight different documents for electronic vaccination certificates with QR codes.
Arrangements have been made to register online in the website of the health ministry to get the certificate made available from the Department of Health Services. Those who are unable to register online have to submit eight different documents to get the certificate at the National Ayurveda Research and Training Center, Kirtipur.
The documents include original passport, original vaccination card, recent passport size photograph, a xerox of passport, xerox of vaccination card and affidavit. Those whose flights are scheduled within three days have to submit additional documents like xeroxes of visa and tickets. Earlier, people had to wait in line for hours to get the certificate.
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After the process was made cumbersome, there has been a strong criticism on social media and people have demanded that the system be simplified immediately. Former administrators of the Government of Nepal have criticized this provision. “Why do you need so many documents to get a certificate of vaccination?,” tweeted Former Foreign Secretary Madhurman Acharya. “Please think from the applicant’s side.”
Supporting Acharya, Former Finance Secretary Rameshwar Khanal wrote, “Where did the idea of such an irrational arrangement come from in the Ministry of Health?”
Stating that Somalia had made the process easier by issuing the vaccination card in the English language, Barun, a twitter user, wrote: “If the Nepal government had been as smart as Somalia, thousands of young people would not have to waste their precious time in the lines for vaccination certificates.”
Former Chief Secretary of the Government of Nepal, Bhojraj Ghimire also scoffed at the provision. “The practice of taking unnecessary details will never improve. I feel sad when I see the administrative procedures still going on with the same mentality as when we were there.”
Health ministry officials also said the system could be simplified. “I took over the responsibilities only yesterday. This arrangement can be simplified,” said the newly-appointed Director General of the Department of Health Services, RP Bichha.
