Health budget for local levels increased

By Mahima Devkota, Kathmandu, May 29: The government has increased the health budget for the local level for the upcoming fiscal year 2022/023 compared to the current FY.

An estimate showed that the government had allocated some Rs. 7 billion for local level on health for the present FY while it has allotted Rs. 27.44 billion for the upcoming FY.

However, the total health budget has declined by about 19 billion rupees, from Rs. 122.77 billion of the current year to Rs. 103.18 billion allocated for the upcoming FY.

Unveiling the annual budget for the FY 2022/023 at the joint meeting of the federal parliament today, Finance Minister Janardan Sharma said that the government has allocated Rs. 69.38 billion for federal, Rs. 6.36
billion for province and Rs. 27.44 for local level on health sector.

Learning by Doing

There will be an emphasis on the improvement of the health system by taking lessons from the good management amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Rs 100 million has been allocated for building 655 local hospitals.

All the hospitals that are in ill condition will be built with proper facilitation.

Separate Ward for senior citizens in 20 hospitals

Senior citizens' wards will be added to 20 hospitals both at the federal and provincial levels. 58 types of medicine will be provided free of cost in government hospitals. A budget of Rs 1.5 billion has been allocated for the purpose of providing free treatment of dialysis and patients with heart disease, patients who are in the treatment of any type of cancer or are cured as well as those who have to undergo a kidney transplant, and patients of spinal surgery.

Nutrition programme to reduce child mortality

Nutrition programme, vaccination, and safe motherhood programme will be prioritized for safeguarding children against five-year-old mortality as well as child mortality in the country. Rs. 5,000 will be given to destitute families in 25 districts for the purpose of ensuring child nutrition.

Accouchement service to reduce maternal mortality

Safe motherhood program will be prioritized for accouchement service to women’s under ‘The Aama Program' introduced to reduce financial barriers to women seeking institutional delivery to reduce the maternal mortality rate.

Specialty hospitals

Specialty medical hospitals will be built in Saptari and Rajapur.

There will be a provision for children and senior citizens specialized programme in hospitals. Children's specialized hospitals will be built as well as special services will be provided to differently able people.

Blood transfusion centers in all provinces

Similarly, it was announced that government-owned blood transfusion centers will be established in all provinces.

Free health campaign two times a year

Free health campaigns at least two times a year will be administered by hospitals as well as health posts at local levels.

Focus on dialysis and cancer treatment

A special budget of Rs. 500 million allocated to buy cyclotron machine.

Rs 100 million has been allocated in order to give service to dialysis patients as well as Rs 200 million has been allocated to buy dialysis machines. Vaccines against cervical cancer will be started in the upcoming fiscal year.

Center for organ transplant

Human Organ Transplant Centre (Shahid Dharma Bhakta Hospital) will be made a center for human transplants by equipping it with advanced technologies as well as skilled manpower.

Infrastructure development in major hospitals

Infrastructure development will be started in the Manmohan Memorial Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Suresh Wagle Memorial Cancer Hospital, TU Teaching Hospital, B.P. Koirala institute of health sciences, Paropakar Maternity and Women's Hospital, Sushil Koirala Prakhar Cancer Hospital, Rapti Academy of Health Sciences Contact Office and Ram Raja hospital.

Listed health data of patients in private, public hospitals

The National center for disease control will be established as well as there will be a provision to keep records of patients in all private and government hospitals in coordination with federal and provincial and local governments.

Health insurance strengthened

A budget of Rs. 7.5 billion has been allocated for health insurance with the aim of providing health insurance from hospitals and private units. Social health Unit will be established for the purpose. Similarly, counseling units will be established in each province for enhancing mental and emotional health.

Free health checkups for students in community schools

There will be free health checkups of students studying in the community schools at the start of the academic session and a free screening of people above 40 years for non-communicable diseases.

Double intake of medical students annually

There will be a provision of double intake a year for medical admission with an aim to build a potential skilled medical manpower in the country.

Medical personnel facilitation

One health worker one institution will be strengthened. 

During the budget speech, Finance Minister Sharma, said, “ One health worker one institution is being launched this year to health hospitals and hospitals in remote places to motivate doctors and health workers working in remote places.”

Health awareness campaign at local levels

A citizen health campaign will be materialized for which the health awareness campaign will be implemented at all local levels.