Health insurance will be systematic: Minister Paudel

Gandaki, Nov 9: Minister for Health and Population Pradip Paudel has said 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 resource for sustainable health insurance scheme. It is essential to ensure accessible and quality health insurance, he said, adding that income-based contribution could be linked to insurance fund.

He further reminded that he had proposed increasing insurance amount to Rs 500 thousand a year based on scientific assessment. 

Minister Paudel regretted that the health sector was allocated only 4 percent of total budget, which need to be increased to 10 percent at minimum. 

The Minister made it clear that he was not for curtailing citizen's entitlements. Government is at work to provide free of cost cancer treatment to the 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, chair of old age home, Kushum Keshav Parajuli, informed that the facility was also providing assistance to the helpless elderly citizens. (RSS)