Health insurance-related bill soon: Minister Thapa; assures reforms in medical sector

Chitwan / Sept 22: Health Minister Gagan Thapa has said the government is expected to present a bill relating to health insurance at the parliament within the next two months.

Speaking at the foundation-stone laying ceremony of ‘C’ block building of Bharatpur Hospital here today, the Health Minister said the government was planning to come up with a health insurance policy for citizens with a view to ensuring their access to health facilities. “The government will finance the extremely poor community who are unable to pay health insurance amount and guarantee their access to health services,” he added.

Nepal’s constitution has guaranteed citizens’ rights to getting quality health services and every patient either from a poor family or well-off must be provided with well medical treatment, the Health Minister stressed.

He further said the government was committed to allocating necessary budget to set-up an emergency ward and a trauma center in the hospital. On the occasion, he inaugurated hospital’s advanced surgery ward and Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Meanwhile, Minister for Health Gagan Kumar Thapa has reaffirmed his commitment to address the demands put by Dr Govinda KC who has already staged fast-unto-death eight times, fighting against the anomalies and aberrations in the medical sector in the country.

Speaking at a press conference organized by Nepal Press Union, Chitwan Chapter in Chitwan today, Minister Thapa also reiterated his conviction for reforming the medical sector. Thapa assured that the public could witness the changes in this sector in three months.

Minister Thapa argued that it was a wrong mentality to assume that there should not be any discussion in the parliament on the Chief of the Commission of the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) and other Commissioners in the anti-graft body.

Thapa recalled the incident when he, together with two other parliaments, had registered proposal of public importance in the parliament, seeking to hold discussion on the demands raised by Dr KC.

He added, “I registered the proposal of public importance at the capacity of a parliamentarian. Now I am assuming responsibility as the Minister of Health. It is the duty of all other parliamentarians to raise the issue.”

Stating that the irregularities in the medical sector should be investigated, the Minister said that the discussion on the issues relating to financial irregularities in the Maoist cantonments will be held soon in the concerned constitutional body. RSS