Karnali Province government focuses on health sector in upcoming budget

Manma (Kalikot): Karnali Province government unveiled the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, 2083/84, with a special focus on the health sector. Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning in Karnali Province, Rajiv Bikram Shahi, unveiled the budget in the Assembly meeting on Monday.

He shared the priorities of health sectors such as upgrading of rural community health centres, incentives to women health workers, continuation of allowance to mothers of newborns, rescue of expecting mothers and women suffering labour.

“I have given continuity to the maternity nutrition allowance to mothers at public health institutions,” Shah said, adding that he increased the incentive given to health volunteers. In recognition to their significant contribution to the rural health, their incentive is upped by 100 percent, reaching Rs 24,000.”

Digitization of documents at every health institution, strengthening of health services, including physical infrastructure based on assessment of the number of patients and additional services for basic hospitals are other topics covered by the budget. “The laboratory services at provincial and basic hospitals will be upgraded,” he shared. Management of human resources, physical infrastructures and equipment in line with available quota would be in place for the reinforcement of medical and health services in the region.

Minister Shah further informed that necessary budget was allocated to ensure free blood transfusion service to the poor and senior citizens at provincial hospitals by establishing coordination with the Nepal Red Cross Society. Expansion of kidney dialysis service is planned at the Dailekh District Hospital.

The Minister has allocated Rs 25 million for the treatment of patients suffering from chronic diseases such as cancer, heart, kidney, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, anemia, rickets, sickle cell anemia, spinal injury, head injury and autism. “In order to identify non-communicable diseases, timely health tests at the community are planned, especially for senior citizens, single women and people with disabilities,” he read the budget document.

Rs 43.9 million has been allocated to continue programmes like e-health, telemedicine specialist services, health camps, oncology services and burn treatment services.

Similarly, Rs 73 million has been allocated to procure medical equipment for the expansion of dental services and other essential machines.

Making effective the operation of basic health centres in collaboration with local level, encouraging yoga, meditation, lifestyle changes and psychosocial health promotion, launching Broader Karnali Health Campaign, developing Karnali as a health tourism ‘hub’, establishing Ayurvedic medicine centre, formulating necessary laws, protecting and promoting traditional knowledge and skills to integrate alternative medical services, psychosocial counseling and rehabilitation, and controlling non-communicable diseases are other features of budget related to health sector.

Minister Shah said various awareness programmes would also be launched to change social behaviour. Reduction of maternal and infant mortality is in equal priority. According to the Minister, Rs 65.9 million was allocated to continue the supplementary nutrition schemes targeted to children, adolescents and pregnant women. RSS