GANDAKI: Minister for Health and Population Sudha Gautam has emphasized the need for reforms in the health insurance programme.

During her address at the 10th founding anniversary of the Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences in Pokhara today, she highlighted the State alone can no longer bear the financial burden of the health insurance programme.

“This year the government had allocated Rs 1.1 billion for the health insurance programme, and an additional Rs 1.1 billion has been spent,” Minister Gautam stated.

“If ongoing misuse of health insurance is not fixed, the State’s capacity to support it will be compromised, “the minister added.

She indicated towards unnecessary laboratory tests noting utilizing health services merely because of having insurance has troubled the situation.

“The programme is based on contributions of both insured individuals and healthy citizens to provide necessary treatment services to patients in need,” she explained.

“However, many patients enrolled in insurance scheme utilize more services than necessary. It has led the situation to complexities, ” Gautam claimed.

She also noted that the price of medications in hospital pharmacies and those covered by insurance should be compatible, and hospitals with available beds should not receive insurance payments.

Minister Gautam affirmed that the ministry would strive to manage the infrastructure and workforce for the Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences.