The CPN (UML), the main opposition party, has called on the government to operate the Health Insurance Programme. UML Health and Population Department Chief Yogesh Bhattarai, through a press release today, demanded to run the Programme as per the previous provisions by monitoring and keeping a watch on the possible wrong activities by the service-providing organisations. The Department said its attention has been drawn to news reports that several hospitals in the country have shut the Health Insurance Programme and the general public’s right to be benefited from the same in a smooth manner.

“The provision made in Point no 151 of the budget has, on the one hand, kept the general public away from easy access to the health insurance by reducing the number of insurance providing organisations while on the other hand the government is shirking from its responsibility by facilitating the entry of the private companies in the health insurance,” reads the press release. The party said that it has drawn the serious attention of the government, through the discussions held in the Federal Parliament, to abrogate such policy.