Leaders would have to produce approval of the Bir Hospital’s medical board to receive grant, if the cabinet endorses the MoHP proposal, said officials.
The MoHP has taken the move as political leaders started seeking financial aid from the government for their treatment in foreign hospitals. Some leaders seek treatment in foreign countries even for minor health complications, which can be treated within the country. Every year, the government spends millions of rupees for the treatment of political leaders in foreign hospitals.
“We are preparing to table the proposal in the cabinet,” said Minister for Health and Population Khaga Raj Adhikari, adding, “If the proposal gets endorsed, leaders of political parties would have to produce recommendation of the Bir Hospital for financial aid from the government.”
At present, the cabinet takes decision on providing financial aid for treatment of political leaders in foreign hospitals without seeking any recommendation from the doctors.
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He informed that the Bir Hospital has separate cells for the treatment of VIPs and VVIPs, but no one goes there for treatment. Similar treatment facility is available in the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH).
“No political leader goes to Bir Hospital, which is the national referral center, for treatment,” complained Adhikari.
According to Adhikari, hospitals in the country provide treatment for most of the diseases. However, leaders do not trust Nepali doctors. The government has been spending huge amount of money for the treatment of leaders in foreign hospitals.
Party leaders, including the chiefs of Nepali Congress and UML, have taken huge amounts of money for treatment in foreign hospital.
Last year, the government provided Rs 500,000 each to ailing Nepali Congress leaders Govinda Raj Joshi and Siddha Raj Ojha for medical treatment.
The government had also borne the expenses for air ambulance and medical treatment of UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, who underwent kidney-related treatment in Bangkok. The government had provided Rs 1.28 million to Oli then. Similarly, former lawmaker of the CPN-UML Shanta Chaudhary had received approximately Rs 500,000 for medical treatment.
Minister Adhikari said this has sent a wrong message to the public. As a result, even the common people prefer to visit foreign countries for treatment of minor illness.
“We have to check this trend,” said minister Adhikari.
