'Policy reform necessary to make health insurance more effective'

By TRN Online, Kathmandu, June 7: Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Food Safety Dr. Bikash Devkota has pointed out the need of amending related Act to  bring improvement in health insurance.

At a press meet held at the ministry on Sunday, secretary Dr. Devkota viewed that policy reform was necessary to make health insurance scheme more effective.

He said the government was preparing to address complaints seen in the insurance sector.

The secretary attributed allocation of double budget compared to last year to health insurance to government's placing it in high priority. There will be a big change, he said.

"We have to take immediate step based on issues that have come in the media and our latest decisions. For this, we are planning to proceed ahead for amendment to health insurance Act through the Council of Ministers so that we start it with the beginning of the new fiscal year," he said.

He said the government was working to reach out to every citizen within three years with basic health services.