Health Minister Gagan Thapa has said the government is working on a plan to provide financial assistance of Rs 500,000 to cancer patients.

Addressing a programme organised at the Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital operated Nepal Cancer Alleviation Organisation on Monday, the Health Minister said the government was preparing to increase the assistance amount being given to cancer patients so that their treatment would become easier.

Currently, the government provides Rs 100,000 to a cancer patient belonging to the poor and indigent communities .

" Treatment of cancer is costly. The Ministry has proposed the Finance Ministry to increase the amount of monetary assistance being provided to cancer patients and it is awaiting an approval from there ( Finance Ministry) to implement its plan," he added.

Stating that the government had laid its focus on making the citizens health conscious and encouraging them to adopt healthy habits so as to prevent them from becoming ill, the Health Minister said the government was working to increase efficiency of the government-run hospitals across the country for the relief of patients of chronic diseases.

Besides, the government has extended the services of the Gangalal National Heart Center to outside the Kathmandu Valley. Center's services are being rendered from the Bheri Zonal Hospital Hospital, Nepalgunj and a cancer hospital in commemoration of the late Girija Prasad Koirala has been established in Nepalgunj, according to Minister Thapa. He further said the government was preparing to introduce a health insurance proposal to a meeting of the Council of Ministers to be held on April 20 , seeking its endorsement and the health insurance of all citizens will be mandatory from the next fiscal year.

He pledged to financially assist the hospital to purchase required technical materials and equipments.

On the occasion, couple Chinikaji Shrestha and Shanta Devi Shrestha of Bagbazar, Kathmandu who contributed Rs 40 million to construct the new infrastructure at the Hospital feted. ( photo available )