Heath Minister Paudel: Health insurance will be systematic

Gandaki: Minister for Health and Population Pradip Paudel has said the government was working actively to make health insurance systematic.

Opening the geriatric health section at an old age home in Sitakopaila of Pokhara Metropolitan City-17 today, Minister Paudel informed that efforts were on to secure resources for a sustainable health insurance scheme.

It is essential to ensure accessible and quality health insurance, he said, adding that income-based contributions could be linked to insurance funds. He further reminded that he had proposed increasing the insurance amount to 500 thousand rupees a year based on scientific assessment.

Minister Paudel regretted that the health sector was allocated only 4 percent of the total budget, which needs to be increased to 10 percent at a minimum. The Minister made it clear that he was not for curtailing citizen’s entitlements.

The government is at work to provide free-of-cost cancer treatment to children under 14. He also vowed assistance including health and medical equipment and medicines to the geriatric health section run at the old age home.

On the occasion, the chair of the old age home, Kushum Keshav Parajuli, informed that the facility was also assisting the helpless elderly citizens.

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