KATHMANDU, July 21: A day after Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba reportedly talked over the telephone and assured former prime minister and a senior leader of the CPN-UML , who is undergoing treatment at a News-Dehli-based hospital, of bearing all the treatment expenses, former health minister Gagan Thapa has said that the government is not authorized to bear the treatment expenses of any former dignitary. 

Thapa, who is also a key leader of the ruling Nepali Congress (NC), said that the Public Health Service Act-2018 , which came into force on September 18, 2018, doesn’t not allow the government to bear the financial expenses of a person if s/he is to be treated in a foreign country.

“Notwithstanding anything contained in the prevailing law, if any person is to be treated in a foreign country, the expenses to be spent on this shall not be made available by the Government of Nepal,” reads Section 30 of the Act.

Taking to the social media on Wednesday, Thapa said that PM Deuba must be aware of the provisions of the Act. 

Reminding PM Deuba of the provisions of the Act, Thapa also wished Khanal a speedy recovery. He also appreciated Khanal for his contributions to the democratic movements in Nepal. He also urged one and all  not to make negative comments and discourage the kith and kin of Khanal at a time when he is undergoing treatment.

 
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