KATHMANDU: The government has spent around Rs 9.16 billion in its effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic until the end of the last fiscal year, the Ministry of Finance has said.

This, however, includes the budget allocated to provincial and local governments for combating the coronavirus.

According to the Ministry, the three tiers of the government apportioned Rs 7.13 billion for the coronavirus response in this period.

Likewise, the COVID-19 fund of the federal government released a total of Rs 630 million for the same.

Similarly, the Finance Ministry approved an additional budget of Rs 1.37 billion to procure medical supplies.