The government recently initiated two commendable acts aimed at benefiting people at all levels of society. While one of these government moves proposes increasing the compensation for domestic air accident victims, the other raises the health insurance cover amount. The government plan to raise the compensation for the victims of domestic air accidents brings some relief to the families of passengers killed in domestic air disasters. Recently, the Ministry of Finance gave its nod to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation to increase reparations to the families of those who lose lives in air disasters related to the domestic airlines. The compensation has witnessed a whopping five-time rise to US$ 100,000 from the present US$ 20,000. Based on the current exchange rate, the compensation amounts to Rs 13 million.
The proposed bill is in line with the Montreal Convention 1999 (MC99) regarding compensation related to domestic air mishaps. Nepal ratified the Convention in October 2018 and implemented it in December of the same year. As per this convention, the family of a passenger killed in domestic flight accidents should receive US$ 100,000. Currently, the amount of such insurance cover for international flights is $160,000. Meanwhile, a provision is being made to allow passengers to claim baggage damage and flight delay compensation during domestic flights. The proposed bill has to pass through the Cabinet approval, parliament’s endorsement, and the final seal of approval from the president before it will be implemented as law.
The proposed bill is commendable because it will indeed provide relief for the family members who lose their near and dear ones, for no fault of their own, in air mishaps. Though no amount of money can bring back the lost ones, the proposed raise in compensation will help somehow lessen the anguish and pain inflicted by the sudden loss of family members. If the dead members happen to be the sole breadwinners for the family, the money received in compensation will play a significant role in meeting the needs of the bereaved family.
The government’s other move, too, deserves applause as it increases the health insurance amount for Nepali citizens. Minister for Health and Population, Pradip Paudel, presented an action plan for health insurance reform to the prime minister a couple of days ago. The action plan aims at increasing the health insurance cover amount to Rs 500,000 from the present Rs 100,000. The action plan includes reforms to the current Health Insurance Act, benefiting people who cannot afford treatment and thus await government assistance. The action plan includes some measures to achieve the target of raising the insurance amount fourfold.
This is expected to bring several benefits to the general public, especially at a time when health services and treatment are getting increasingly costly. Receiving health services without any hassles is a fundamental human right too. Overall, the health ministry’s action plan is aimed at helping especially the poor in accessing quality healthcare. These people might otherwise struggle to get quality as well as affordable health services. The government’s plan is also expected to prevent them from getting poorer as it reduces the financial burden on individuals and families. It also brings a sense of equity and inclusion in society, helps improve overall health outcomes, and consolidates our overall health system.