KATHMANDU, Sept 29: It has come to light that the government has distributed a total of Rs 10.03 million to 44 persons as medical expenses. 

A meeting of Council of Ministers held on September 18 had decided to dole out a minimum of Rs 50,000 and a maximum of Rs 500,000 per person from the state coffers to its closed ones.

Ignoring the directive of the Finance Committee of the parliament to provide assistance only to those who are not in a position to foot the medical bills themselves, the government provided the financial assistance haphazardly.

Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Yadav Koirala told Republica Online that the Cabinet took the decision as per the recommendation made by the ministry. 

“The decision was taken as per the proposal by the ministry to provide medical expenses to those with a weak financial status,” he said.

Previous governments too were often criticized for doling out money to their closed ones as medical expenses. 

 
• medical expenses
 
• misuse of state coffers