Ministry of Health and Population to Clear Health Insurance Dues by Mid-August
Summary
The Ministry of Health and Population plans to clear all remaining health insurance dues by mid-August and tighten controls on payments to private hospitals. It is also preparing reforms to expand coverage, make insurance more sustainable, and allocate more tobacco tax revenue to health care and cancer treatment.
Key Points
- The Ministry of Health and Population says it will pay all remaining health insurance dues by mid-August after verification is completed.
- Secretary Bikash Devkota said insurance spending has fallen sharply and the government is trying to strengthen services in public hospitals instead of private ones.
- The ministry is considering mandatory insurance for formal-sector employees and reforms to expand coverage and reduce double benefits.
- Devkota said tobacco tax revenue should be more clearly allocated to the health sector, especially for cancer prevention and treatment.
