KATHMANDU, April 29: Health and Population Minister Pradip Paudel has proposed increasing the price of cigarettes from Rs 10 to Rs 30. He has also proposed raising the price of alcohol from Rs 1,000 per bottle to Rs 3,000.
While inaugurating the 17th anniversary celebration and the launch of a blood bank at the Nepal Korea Friendship Municipality Hospital in Madhyapur Thimi on Monday, Minister Paudel stated that a portion of the revenue generated from the proposed price hikes could be allocated to the health insurance program.
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He stated that only if such measures are implemented will the health insurance program remain viable; otherwise, it may reach a point where it has to be scrapped altogether. Paudel also discussed various preparations the ministry is making to increase the health insurance coverage limit from Rs 100,000 to Rs 500,000.
During the program, Bagmati Provincial Assembly Member Suresh Shrestha, Mayor of Madhyapur Thimi Municipality Surendra Shrestha, former mayor Madan Krishna Shrestha, Deputy Mayor Anjana Devi Madhikarmi, and others discussed various issues related to the health sector.
