Kathmandu: Minister for Health and Population, Mohan Bahadur Basnet, has unveiled Nepal’s ambition to transform into a ‘medical hub’ by emphasizing the development of medical education within the country.
Addressing the audience at the third National Health Summit organized by the Nepal Medical Association, Minister Basnet highlighted the imperative of providing medical education locally to curb the trend of Nepali students seeking education abroad in nursing and paramedical fields, which has led to a substantial outflow of funds.
Minister Basnet expressed concern over the financial strain faced by students studying medical subjects abroad and underscored the need to create an environment in Nepal that offers quality medical education, preventing the need for students to seek such education overseas.
“The constitution guarantees free treatment to citizens, and patients from economically disadvantaged backgrounds should not be denied treatment due to financial constraints,” stated Minister Basnet.
He disclosed that a provision has been enacted requiring government hospitals to offer free treatment to impoverished individuals, covering up to 10 percent of their total bed capacity. Furthermore, plans are underway to establish three medical colleges in each province, fostering the growth of the medical education sector.
Uttam Joshi, the Health Minister of Bagmati Province, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the government’s responsibility to deliver health services efficiently to citizens.
He announced initiatives in Bagmati Province, including the provision of free health insurance of Rs 100,000 to individuals from marginalized communities and the introduction of free blood services in all government hospitals in Kathmandu.
The National Health Summit, which commenced on Sunday, is set to conclude today, bringing together key stakeholders to deliberate on crucial issues and strategies for advancing the nation’s healthcare system.
News Source: Rashtriya Samachar Samiti