KATHMANDU, Feb 26 : A meeting of the National Assembly (NA), the Upper House in the Federal Parliament, today endorsed the 'Pension Fund Bill- 2075 BS'. Finance Minister Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada presented the proposal to this end before the session. 

Similarly, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Chakrapani Khanal presented a proposal seeking the consideration over the 'Pesticides Management Bill- 2075 BS' in the meeting. 
Prior to this, Legislation Management Committee President Parashuram Meghi Gurung presented the committee report about the bill related to the senior citizens (first amendment)-2075 BS. The NA session then put off, promising to meet again today itself. 

Health budget sufficient only to pay staff 

Minister of State for Health and Population Dr Surendra Kumar Yadav has said the implementation of federalism was the topmost priority of the ministry. In his response to queries of lawmakers raised during the discussions about a proposal of public importance relating to public health presented in the House of Representatives, the minister said the government was committed to preventing health institutions from facing shortages of human resources, equipments and medicines. 
The proposal was proposed by Khagaraj Adhikari and it was backed by Anjana Bisankhe and Mana Kumari GC. 

According to the minister, local and province-level health institutions have been already made clear about their areas of working and services, an online reporting of services being delivered by them has begun and telemedicine service has been extended to province-level. 

"The aim of the government is to cover all people by its health insurance scheme and the programme is being expanded to additional eight districts in upcoming year." 

As he informed the Lower House, the Public Procurement Act has caused a problem in the purchase of medicines, only 102 local levels have hospitals and there is a plan to establish more and more facilities in the next year. "Presently it seems not possible to establish a 15-bed health facility at every local level." 

Discussions are underway to ensure a situation that doctors sent to local levels would have a ground to come back to the centre, according to him. 

On the basis of population ratio of Nepal, there should be 60,000 hospital beds in the country, but contrary to this, the government facilities have 7,500 beds in total and the private have 1,700. "Health budget is sufficient only to pay staff," he apprised the House. RSS

 
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