KATHMANDU: Newly appointed Health and Population Minister Dr. Sudha Sharma Gautam has officially assumed her duties.

Upon taking office, she announced her first decision: providing psychological counseling services to those injured during the Gen Z demonstration.

Speaking to journalists, Minister Sharma emphasized her commitment to making procurement processes fully transparent and ending corruption.

She stated, “The Gen Z protest was aimed at ending corruption and promoting good governance. No trace of corruption should be tolerated anywhere.”

Considering the country’s current situation, she highlighted mental health as a top priority.

She also mentioned that, in coordination with the Ministry of Finance, arrangements will be made for free health insurance for the families of martyrs from the Gen Z movement, along with the necessary budgeting and procedural steps.

Minister Sharma noted that the current government is a citizen-focused administration, and its evaluation should be based on performance rather than rhetoric.

She further assured that steps will be initiated to address the issues of nurses protesting over remuneration.

A former Health Secretary, the newly appointed Minister Sharma is also an obstetrician-gynecologist and a public health specialist.