Kidney Patients Protest for Problem Resolution

Kathmandu. Kidney Patient Solidarity Society Nepal Central Working Committee has organized a protest and attention-grabbing program at Maitighar Mandala to solve the problems of kidney and other critical patients. 

During the demonstration, patients submitted a special attention letter to the Ministry of Health employees, raising their demands with banners.

The protesting kidney patients have demanded the immediate abolition of the 10 percent 'co-payment' system implemented in health insurance. They complain that this system has imposed an additional financial burden on economically disadvantaged patients for treatment. 

They have stated that this provision brought by the Insurance Board, requiring patients to bear a certain percentage of the treatment cost themselves, has put patients who need long-term medication and treatment in trouble.

Similarly, the society has objected that although the government has already decided to provide a monthly allowance of Rs 5,000 to patients with kidney disease, cancer, and spinal cord paralysis, not all patients have received the amount so far. Their demand is that the government's decision should be fully implemented so that patients across the country can receive it.

Participants in the demonstration carried placards with slogans such as 'Kidney Donation - Life Donation' and 'Organ Donation - Virtuous Deed'. They have also demanded from the government to effectively advance the process of organ donation from brain death. 

They emphasized the need to encourage organ donation by removing legal and practical complexities to save the lives of many patients awaiting organ transplantation.