By Our Correspondent
Surkhet, Dec 28: The government had introduced health insurance policy in the country two years ago.
Many citizens have benefited from the health insurance. However, some state assembly members of Karnali State are unware about such an insurance policy.
Jhoba B.K, state assembly member of the state, has never did her health insurance. B.K said she was unable to register herself for an insurance policy because she lacked knowledge.
Like B.K, Daan Singh Pariyar, a state assembly member, is not involved in any health insurance programme. “Though I am registered for any health insurance, the health insurance programme seems very effective for many citizens at the district”, he added.
Speaking at an interaction programme organised by Health Insurance Board on Saturday, many state assembly members said they had not registered themselves for any health insurance because they did not have any knowledge about the policy.
Though the government had launched the insurance policy two years ago at the province, many citizens had not involved in insurance because many were unaware about the policy.
Sujan Rokaya, information officer of Karnali State’s Health Insurance Board, informed that out of a total population of 200,000 at the district only about 17,000 people have insured them for a health insurance. Percentwise, the population involved in health insurance programme is 19 per cent in total. Of them, 69 per cent of them have renewed their insurance, Rokaya said.
The government has the policy that all citizens will get health services up one lakh rupees if the citizen will insure them for health insurance worth Rs. 3,500.
The programme has been implemented in eight districts of Karnali State which is in initial phase at Dailekh and the programme will be implemented in Salyan towards the end of this fiscal year, Arjun Pandit, coordinator of Health Insurance Board of Karnali Province said.
Ramesh Kumar Pokharel, executive director of the board, requested all state assembly members to make health insurance programme more effective.
Dal Rawal, Social Development Minister, said the health insurance programme is in the priority of the state government.
The government has already allocated Rs.130 million to the state government’s 14 hospitals, 11 primary health centers for providing health insurance facilities. Till now, the health insurance programme has been implemented in 47 districts across the country.