GANDAKI PROVINCE ALLOCATES RS 3.31 BILLION FOR HEALTH SECTOR DEVELOPMENT

Pokhara. Gandaki Province government has allocated approximately 3.5 billion for the development of the health sector in the coming year. The Ministry of Finance has stated that a budget of 3 billion 310 million rupees has been allocated with the objective of providing easy access to services. The provincial government has allocated 60 million rupees for the construction of buildings for the Provincial Public Health and Communicable Disease Hospital and Gandaki Ayurveda Hospital.

Similarly, a budget of 100 million rupees has been set aside for the purchase of CT scan machines at Madhyabindu Provincial Hospital and Gorkha Hospital in Nawalpur.

An additional 35 million rupees has been allocated for the purchase of ambulances required for various hospitals under the provincial government. An allocation of 66 million rupees has been made for air rescue services to save the lives of pregnant and postpartum women in distress and for emergency treatment.

A budget of 20 million rupees has been allocated to expand the integrated surveillance system at the community level for preparedness and response to epidemics and public health risks. Finance Minister Jit Bahadur Sherchan informed that yoga and meditation campaigns will be conducted every morning for the prevention of non-communicable diseases.

The provincial government has announced to provide blood and blood products free of charge by strengthening the social security program in the health sector. Further financial assistance for cancer treatment, effective implementation of the health insurance program, and continuity of incentives for women community health volunteers have been provided.