November 20: The Ministry of Finance has secured source of investment for setting up 396 primary hospitals in the local units.

Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has approved the Ministry of Health and Population to undertake the construction of the hospitals with a budget of Rs 57.97 billion.

Spokesperson at the Ministry of Finance Rameshwar Dangal informed that the ministry has approved the process to initiate contract for the construction of primary hospitals with five, 10 and 15 beds in various local units within two years.

The health ministry has been instructed to release the required amount as conditional grant from its annual budget.

The finance ministry has already released Rs 6.12 billion for the construction of primary hospitals this year.

A meeting of Finance Minister Bisnhu Prasad Poudel and Health Minister Bhanubhakta Dhakal about a month ago had decided to lay the foundation stone of one of the hospitals on November 30 with the objective of setting up standard primary health care facility for the public.

According to a statement issued by the finance ministry, the monetary policy for the current fiscal year has envisoned setting up hospitals of five to 15 beds in each and every local unit.