Over half of Gulmi locals enroll in health insurance scheme

By Ramesh Bishwokarma,Gulmi, Aug,1: The locals of Gulmi have shown growing interest in the government-initiated health insurance scheme under the social security programme. 

More than 50 per cent of the people in the district have now enrolled in the programme, which aims to provide easier access to healthcare services.

According to Subash Ghimire, Coordinator of the Health Insurance Board Contact Office in Gulmi, the health insurance programme was launched in the district on February 2, 2020, with the goal of ensuring quality healthcare services for the general public.

The district comprises a total of 12 local units, which include two municipalities and 10 rural municipalities. According to the National Census 2021, the district has a population of 246,836.

So far, 123,955 people in Gulmi have enrolled on health insurance scheme, among them, 59,969 are men and 63,986 women. 

Coordinator Ghimire informed that 50.30 per cent of the total population has been covered by the scheme. 

He added that the number of insured locals is rising steadily as people are beginning to understand the importance of the programme.

Resunga Municipality has the highest number of insured locals, with 23,942 people enrolled on the scheme. 

In Musikot Municipality, 7,686 citizens have registered for health insurance. 

Similarly, 6,637 people in Kaligandaki Rural Municipality, 15,681 in Satyawati Rural Municipality, 6,175 in Chandrakot Rural Municipality, 13,716 in Rurukshetra Rural Municipality, 11,944 in Chhatrakot Rural Municipality, and 10,015 in Gulmidurbar Rural Municipality have enrolled on the scheme.

In addition, 6,901 people from Isma Rural Municipality, 9,716 from Dhurkot Rural Municipality, 3,462 from Madane Rural Municipality, and 8,080 from Malika Rural Municipality have also taken part in the health insurance programme, as per the data provided by the Health Insurance Board Contact Office.

Furthermore, 4,558 individuals from 881 families of Female Community Health Volunteers have registered for the insurance.

The government provides free health insurance to senior citizens, people living with HIV, leprosy patients, and individuals with complex forms of tuberculosis.

According to the office, 17,365 senior citizens aged over 70 have received free health insurance. 

Likewise, 481 individuals from 165 HIV-infected families, 12 individuals from three families affected by leprosy, 3,938 individuals from 782 families with Category ‘A’ disabilities, and 25 individuals from six families suffering from complex tuberculosis have also benefited from the free health insurance scheme.