Destitute Citizens to have Insurance coverage

KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Health and Population is going to integrate the social health security programs.

Accordingly, Minister for Health and Population Pradeep Poudel today approved the ‘Destitute Citizen Medical Treatment Program Operation Guidelines, 2080 (First Amendment 2082)’.

The Guidelines has made a provision for a single-door system to provide payment for the treatment of eight types of serious diseases provided through the Destitute Citizen Treatment Program through the Health Insurance Board. With the approval of these guidelines, the Destitute Citizen Treatment Program has come under the umbrella of health insurance.

The revised guidelines has made a provision for the payment process of the destitute citizens treatment program run by the Department of Health Services, Nursing and Social Security Division to be enforced through the Health Insurance Board and other activities related to the program, such as hospital listing, integrated monitoring, etc., to be done by the Nursing and Social Security Division.

Approving the guidelines, Minister Poudel said that the government is committed to the medical treatment of destitute citizens and is active in making the insurance program more integrated, systematic and transparent.

Ministry spokesperson Dr Prakash Budhathoki said that after the implementation of this guidelines will make the state’s investment economical. After the implementation of this guidelines, everyone’s accounts will be clear and benefits will reach the real patients.