Health Minister Giriraj Mani Pokhrel on Thursday noted that his major achievements during the 80-day in Ministry of Health is the endorsement of Social Health Insurance Act and Rapti Health Sciences Academy. 

Two days after the government led by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba relieved all the Maoist Centre ministers of their responsibilities and assigning them ministries without portfolio, Pokhrel said a taskforce has been already formed to formulate Regulations to immediately implement the health insurance programme across the country.

"This model of health insurance in Nepal is based on social justice. The important part of this insurance is equity. The decision of the premium for the insurance will be based on the income of the person," said Minister Pokhrel. "Those who have more money will pay more while those who have less money will pay less. The government will pay for those people who do not have money."

The Health Insurance Act was authenticated by President Bidhya Devi Bhandari on Wednesday paving way for its implementation. The Act mandates all the people of the country to be insured while paying premiums to people who live in abject poverty and marginalized ones.

Similarly, Minister Pokhrel also said with the passage of Rapti Health Sciences Academy, the people in few years time will be able to access quality healthcare.

Minister Pokhrel also noted that health policy following the formulation of Constitution of Nepal is essential.

"I have already formed New Health Policy Formulation High-Level Committee that has submitted its first draft. Now the discussion at provincial level is underway," said Minister Pokhrel. "I hope that the new leadership will take forward this task."

In view with the upcoming federal and provincial elections, the Ministry of Health has also developed a plan to train all health professionals, said Pokhrel.