KATHMANDU, May 25: The government of Nepal has decided to take an additional loan of Rs 39.60 billion for the treatment of COVID-19 out of which Rs 3.40 billion has already been received.
According to Minister Hriyadesh Tripathi, the Ministry of Health and Population(MoHP) has already signed a request for Rs 9 billion for vaccine management. The Asian Development Bank has decided to give Rs 19.20 billion as a loan to the government of Nepal, Minister Tripathi said.
NAC struggles to secure concessional loan from int’l lenders
Earlier, various countries donated medical supplies worth Rs 2 billion for management of COVID-19. Also, Nepal has received Rs 7.42 billion as a loan from other international banks and governments, out of which Nepal received Rs 5.22 billion including medical equipment from the Government of Japan, Rs 420 million from the Government of Germany, Rs 360 million from the Asian Development Bank and Rs 420 million from the World bank. According to the Ministry of Health and Population, assistance from other nations and organizations is still underway as well.
According to chief expert Mahendra Shrestha of the MoHP, the management of COVID-19 has become easier with the help of health supplies and equipment received from friendly nations. The ministry also stated that the medical supplies including oxygen cylinders, antigen kits and other necessary items have been sent to the provinces around the country to increase testing at the community level.
Nepal likely to receive vaccines from three countries
According to Minister Tripathi, there is a possibility of receiving vaccines from China, India and the United States of America. He stated that initiatives are being made for vaccines with these countries. “We are close to a decision but nothing can be said until the result is out,” he added. According to chief of Department of Health Services, Dr Dipendra Raman Singh, there is a possibility of vaccines like Moderna, Covidshield and Johnson arriving in the country.
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