Govt says Rs 13.36 billion spent for COVID-19 response so far

KATHMANDU: The government stated that it has so far spent over Rs 13 billion for the control of the coronavirus and treatment of COVID-19 infected.

Minister for Communication and Information Technology and government Spokesperson Dr. Yubaraj Khatiwada said that the government has spent Rs 13.36 billion so far through all the three-tiers of the government.

Out of that expenditure, Rs 5.85 billion has been spent by the federal government, Rs 1.3 billion by the provincial government and Rs 6.2 billion by the local levels.

Out of the amount spent by the federal government, the Ministry of Health and Population has spent Rs 2.17 billion, the Ministry of Defense Rs 2.37 billion, the Ministry of Home Affairs Rs 208.3 million, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rs 600,000, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rs 44.9 million and the Ministry of Urban Development Rs 10 million and Rs 1.3 billion has been spent from the Coronavirus Control and Treatment Fund.

Khatiwada said that all these expenses were for the purchase of medicines and health supplies, management of health infrastructure and mobilization of manpower.

Out of the expenditure by the provinces, Province 1 has spent Rs 207.1 million, Province 2 Rs 172 million, Bagmati Province Rs 136.7 million, Gandaki Province Rs 145.4 million, Province 5 Rs 105.9 million, Karnali Province Rs 262.6 million and Sudurpaschim Province Rs 424.8 million.

So far, Rs 2.75 billion has been deposited in Coronavirus Infection Prevention, Control and Treatment Fund, of which Rs 1.20 billion has been spent, he added.