The government will bear the medical expenses incurred by President Ramchandra Paudel during his treatment in India.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as per a Foreign Secretary-level decision, sent a letter to the Ministry of Finance on Monday to pay the amount.

Paudel’s secretariat on May 2 had said that the President had expressed his desire to cover medical expenses incurred during his treatment in India. However, there was no initiative on behalf of the President to pay the medical expenses.

The President was airlifted to India on a chartered flight of Shree Airlines along with a medical team on April 19. Paudel was admitted to TU Teaching Hospital a day before flying to India after he complained of shortness of breath. He stayed in the Indian capital city for 11 days for treatment. After being discharged from the hospital, the President arrived home on a regular flight of Nepal Airlines.

The Foreign Ministry had previously asked for approval from the Finance Ministry for the expenses, saying that the bill for the expenses incurred during that period had been submitted for reimbursement.

Following this, the Finance Ministry agreed to disburse Rs 5,502,279 to the Foreign Ministry on June 26 to spend the said amount on health treatment and other expenses in accordance with the prevailing laws and approved standards.

Paudel underwent treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi for a chest-related ailment.