Kathmandu, March 18 -- Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) failed to carry out its annual month-long screening of non-communicable diseases this fiscal year, mainly due to the March 5 snap parliamentary elections, which coincided with the campaign.

Each year, local units across the country screen residents for major non communicable diseases, including hypertension and diabetes, and also conduct tests to check kidney function, blood sugar, and body mass index.

Officials at the KMC, the most populous city in the country with over a million residents, blamed the deployment of health workers in the elections for the disruption.

Although around three months remain in the fiscal year, officials say it is unlikely that the screening will be co...