MP Gita Devkota Demands Government Expedite Health Insurance Program

Kathmandu. Nepali Congress MP Gita Devkota has demanded that the government immediately advance the health insurance program. Speaking at the National Assembly meeting on Thursday, MP Devkota made such a demand. She questioned whether the health insurance program, initiated by then-Health Minister Gagan Kumar Thapa, was being sought to be abolished for fear of praising the initiator. She drew the government's attention to the fact that patients who went for treatment based on the health insurance card did not receive treatment and that hospitals were also demanding payment. MP Devkota also urged the government to show itself to be welfare-oriented rather than helpless on issues related to citizens' lives. She said, 'Hearing the name of health insurance, it seems citizens are safe. But upon reaching the hospital, it is known that there is a card but no service. There is insurance but no medicine.' Speaking about the status of the insurance program, she added, 'The health insurance program, which was started on Gagan Thapa's initiative, has now been brought to a state where health insurance itself needs to be insured. Is the program being sought to be abolished for fear of praising its creator?' Highlighting the problems of patients and hospitals, she said, 'Patients ask, what did we get by doing insurance? Hospitals ask, when will the payment come? But in the government's reports, everything appears to be slow.' Commenting on the government's working style, she added, 'The government is urged to give treatment, not speeches; give medicine, not publicity; give results, not reports. Show yourself to be welfare-oriented, not helpless, government.' She drew the attention of the Speaker of the Assembly to direct (rule) the government to immediately implement the health insurance program as it is a matter directly related to the lives of the people.