By Ajita Rijal
Kathmandu, May 30: The government has put health sector in high priority and has allocated big sums in its annual budget. The government has raised the budget for the health sector to Rs. 122.77 billion for the fiscal year 2021/22, at a time the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic has gripped the country. It was Rs. 90.69 billion last year.
Presenting the budget for the fiscal year 2021-22, Minister for Finance Bishnu Poudel said that high priority would be given to prevention and control of coronavirus pandemic and infectious diseases. The government has allocated Rs. 37.53 billion for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19. He also mentioned that test and treatment of COVID-19 would be free.
Minister Paudel said that the government has given priority to save the life of people. “The main priority of the budget is to save lives and address the ongoing epidemic.”
“The government is committed in providing free vaccines against COVID-19,” said Minister Poudel and added that Rs. 26 billion has been allocated for procurement of vaccines.
Minister Poudel said that Rs. 4 billion has been allocated for procurement of ICUs, HDUs, ventilators, test kits including other health equipment, required for treatment of COVID-19. Poudel said that the government has allocated Rs. 5.60 billion for procurement of medicines.
The government would give special priority for the management of medical oxygen, said Minister Poudel and added that no COVID patient should lose their life in lack of oxygen.
Poudel also said that the government has allocated Rs. 1.30 billion budget for building 300-bed infectious disease hospital in the capital and 50-bed hospitals in each province.
Poudel also said that the government has allocated a budget for building basic hospitals at all local levels. “Rs. 6.15 billion has been allocated for the programme.”
“In order to extend health insurance programme to all the local levels Rs. 7.50 billion has been allocated,” said Minister Poudel.
Similarly, the government has also increased the allowance for women health workers to cent per cent and now it has been increased to 12,000.
Poudel that said arrangements have been made to provide 50 per cent funding for establishment of oxygen plant in the time of pandemic.
Minister Poudel announced the budget of Rs. 2.50 billion has been separated for providing free treatment of various diseases including heart disease, Parkinson, spinal cord injury for senior citizens.
Meanwhile, the government has allocated Rs. 180.04 billion for the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology for the upcoming fiscal year.
The government has announced that it would provide up to Rs. 80,000 loan at one per cent interest to the students pursuing higher education to buy a laptop.
Likewise, the government has also decided to increase the salary of Early Child Development teachers of community schools across the country. In line with the decision, the teachers will now get Rs. 15,000 as monthly salary.
The government will provide loan of up to Rs 2.5 million at 5 per cent interest against the deposit of academic qualification certificate of upwards of Bachelor’s degree, according to Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel.