KATHMANDU, July 7: The treatment cost of former Prime Minister (PM) Jhalanath Khanal is to be borne by the government. It has been learnt that a cabinet meeting held on June 21 took a decision to this effect.

Senior UML leader Khanal is undergoing treatment at Apollo Hospital in New Delhi.

According to senior officials at the Ministry of Finance, the ministry has already written to the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM) to make arrangements for Khanal’s medical expenses to be paid in by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will make the payment to the hospital through the Nepal Embassy in Delhi.

However, the government’s decision to bear the medical expenses of Khanal violates the Public Health Service Act 2075 BS, according to a senior official at the Ministry of Finance. It is clearly stated in the Act that the government cannot provide medical expenses to anyone.

Advocate Kedar Karki has maintained that the cabinet’s decision to bear Khanal’s medical expenses is unauthorized and against the law.

When Republica tried to get the opinion of the OPMCM regarding the decision, spokesperson Kiranraj Sharma refused to come into contact.

Meanwhile, it has been learnt that the CPN-UML has been fooling the general public, maintaining that the party will bear the expenses.

PM KP Sharma Oli announced that the party will bear the medical expenses of Khanal at the party’s 10th General Convention Organising Committee meeting held at the Prime Minister’s official residence at Baluawatar earlier.

 
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