The ministry has received Rs 15 million for the purpose. Patients who are poor will get free treatment for up to Rs 50,000 at selected government health institutions.
This facility was started during the current month after the cabinet approved the ministry´s proposal for providing such support to kidney, cancer and heart patients as well as patients suffering from Alzheimer´s and Parkinson´s diseases.
Dr LB Thapa, chief of Clinical Service Division, however, said the fund will be used up within a month or two. "But the finance ministry has assured us of more funding once the allocated fund is used up," he said.
BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS) Dharan, Bharatpur Cancer Hospital, Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), the Maternity Hospital at Thapathali and Bir Hospital have been selected for providing cancer treatment.
Similarly, Bir, TUTH, BPKIHS and the National Kidney Center will provide treatment to kidney patients. Likewise, Sahid Gangalal Heart Center, TUTH, Bir, BPKIHS and zonal hospitals will provide treatment to heart patients. Central government hospitals will be provided the money if they treat the poor who have Parkinson´s or Alzheimer´s.
A committee headed by the secretary at the Ministry of Health and Population and with members from the Ministries of Home and Finance will have the final authority to authorize disbursement of money to these health institutions.
The cabinet has also formed committees in the districts that are authorized to certify the financial condition of patients seeking such help. The committee is chaired by the chief of the district development committee and has for members the doctor at the district hospital, the public health officer and the chief district officer.
Prior to the decision to send money directly to the health institutions the ministry used to give a certain amount to the poor themselves if they submitted applications and their financial condition was established. However, there was no formal mechanism to verify the financial condition of people applying for the support.
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