Newly-appointed Health Minister Poudel assumes office

Kathmandu: Newly-appointed Minister for Health and Population Pradip Poudel assumed office reaching the Ministry at local Ramshahpath today immediately after taking the oath of office and secrecy from the President.

Talking in brief to media persons after taking charge of the office, Minister Poudel expressed the commitment to bringing on board all the citizens in the health insurance coverage by strengthening and systematizing the integrated health system. He said he would emphasize the control and prevention of cancer as many Nepalis were suffering from it.

‘I have come to a place for work. I will move ahead taking necessary suggestions from the experts. My emphasis would be on consolidating the integrated health system,’ the Health Minister said, adding his focus would be to promptly provide quality health services. Brief bio of Minister.

The newly-appointed minister Poudel was born to mother Durgadevi and father Dilli Raman Poudel on 27 March 1975 at Shuklagandaki Municipality-8 in Tanahun district. He was affiliated with the Nepal Students Union, the student wing of the Nepali Congress, and took an active part in the 1990 people’s movement for the restoration of democracy.

He was elected the president of the Free Students Union at Amrit Science Campus in 2053 BS. Poudel was elected the central president of the Nepal Students Union in 2064 BS after leading the student movement for a long time in favour of educational reforms.

Poudel holds a Master’s degree in Sociology. He is also the central committee member of the Nepali Congress. He was elected a Member of the House of Representatives from Kathmandu constituency-5 in the parliamentary elections held in 2022.

He was arrested by the then regime and also jailed for taking part in the Second People’s Movement against the king’s direct rule in 2006/07.