Health Minister Demands Immediate Budget to Avert Crisis in National Health Insurance Program

Kathmandu. Minister for Health and Population Dr. Sudha Gautam has demanded that the Ministry of Finance immediately provide the necessary budget to resolve the financial crisis facing the National Health Insurance Program. During a discussion held today at the Prime Minister's Office in the presence of Prime Minister Sushila Karki, she expressed concern that hospitals affiliated with the health insurance system could shut down if an immediate arrangement of NPR 15 billion is not made.

Minister Dr. Gautam urged the Ministry of Finance to manage the source, stating that resolving the existing problems and situation is not possible through discussion and suggestions alone. "How can the health insurance program operate carrying a liability of 24 billion on a zero budget?" Minister Gautam questioned, "Either there must be a clear directive to close the health insurance, or the necessary funds must be arranged."

Addressing the Finance Minister and Finance Secretary directly, Health Minister Dr. Gautam stated that the ministry is working according to the government's policy, presented in the budget statement in Shrawan, to continue health insurance benefits for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, Dalits, the extremely poor, and minority communities.

In the discussion, Finance Secretary Ghanashyam Upadhyay suggested policy reforms to the Ministry of Health and stated that the Ministry of Finance is committed to mobilizing the necessary resources. "For immediate management, the Ministry of Health needs to bring a proposal after reprioritizing the allocable amount for health insurance. The Ministry of Finance will fully cooperate on matters of fund transfer and source reallocation. Beyond that, we are ready to reallocate funds to the Ministry of Health based on necessity according to the details of the current expenditures in other ministries," said Secretary Upadhyay.

He added that if the Ministry of Health only seeks resources without making reforms the first agenda, the health insurance program cannot operate sustainably. "The Ministry itself must make solving the problems seen in the program run by the Ministry of Health the first agenda, only then is reform possible," said Secretary Upadhyay.