Banke: Minister for Health and Population, Pradip Paudel, has promised to ensure free medicines and quality healthcare for patients of sickle cell anemia.
Inaugurating an advanced operation theater at the Bheri Hospital, Nepalgunj today, the Minister said all possible measures will be taken to guarantee quality care for patients of sickle cell and thalassemia.
He announced on the occasion that a dedicated ward will be established in provincial hospitals of all seven provinces for such patients.
The Minister added that the Ministry has already written to the Indian government, demanding drugs for sickle cell and the deal has neared the final phase.
As he said, the government is also focused on the prevention of diseases through various awareness raising programmes. “Side by side, the government is working on the further systematization of the health insurance programme.”
Bheri Hospital Development Committee Chair Birendra Bahadur Shah and members drew the government’s attention towards the urgency to increase the size of workforce in the hospital and allocate the insurance amount to it.
Sickle cell patient from Bardiya, Deepak Tharu, urged the State to incorporate the medicines for the disease into the health insurance programme.
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