KATHMANDU: The report from the task force formed to address issues in the health insurance sector has been made public.
Minister for Health and Population, Pradeep Poudel, unveiled the report during a program at the ministry.
Minister Poudel emphasized that health insurance can be managed without burdening the common citizen, and that the government is progressing in that direction.
The committee, led by Dr. Shambhu Acharya, was formed to suggest solutions for the challenges faced by the health insurance sector.
One of the key recommendations of the report is to increase the health insurance benefit from Rs 100,000 to Rs 500,000.
The task force also proposed integrating other social security-related programs into the health insurance system.
Minister Poudel mentioned that an action plan, which is being implemented by the ministry and the Health Insurance Board, is already in progress.
He also announced that health insurance units will be mandatory at every level of government.
As health insurance involves all three levels of government, he stated that collective funds from the central, provincial, and local governments should be used to strengthen the health insurance fund.
The minister expressed confidence that the current fund of about 30 billion rupees, when used through a single-door system, will help eliminate the existing financial shortfall in the sector.
He further explained that although the annual budget allocation of 3 billion rupees was insufficient to cover insurance costs, it has been increased this year and will be raised to 10 billion rupees in the upcoming budget.
The task force members included senior cardiologist Dr. Bhagawan Koirala, development economist and current Executive Director of the Health Insurance Board Dr. Raghuraj Kafle, along with officials from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance.
Based on the committee’s findings, an action plan has also been presented to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
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