KATHMANDU: The government has appointed Laxman Aryal to the post of Secretary at the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP).

Secretary Yadav Koirala has been transferred to the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, highly-placed source said.

Koirala was appointed as the Secretary of the Ministry on March 1.

He was dragged into controversy after he became the Health Secretary and was blamed for not being able to competently coordinate to control and prevent COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier, Aryal was Secretary at the Economy and Infrastructure Development in Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.