Government yet to Release Rs 260 Million to BPKIHS for Health Insurance Scheme   

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Government yet to Release Rs 260 Million to BPKIHS for Health Insurance Scheme   

March 2: The BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS), a reputed teaching hospital in Dharan, is desperately awaiting for Rs 260 million from the Ministry of Health and Population which the government is liable to pay for insurance coverage. The hospital spent the amount on health insurance schemes for patients on its own but has not received the amount from the government.    
The BPKIHS administration has said that the lack of fund has hampered the health insurance scheme at the hospital, which is the major destination for locals of Province 1 and Madhesh Province.    
''BPKIHS has made it clear in writing to the Health Ministry that if the fund is not released within March 29, the hospital will cease the health insurance scheme,'' said Professor Doctor Gaurishankar Shah, the hospital's director.    
''BPKIHS is itself in crisis in financial fronts which is added by the pending health insurance dues from the Health Ministry. The ministry owes us Rs 260 million which is not a small amount,'' he added.

Dr Shah said BPKIHS has drawn the attention of the office of the Prime Minister, Chief Minister of Province 1, Health Ministry of Province 1, District Administration Office of Sunsari and Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City but to no avail.

Dr Shah said more than 60 to 70 percent patients at the institution are from government-funded health insurance scheme.    
''BPKIHS is an autonomous institution where more than 2300 staff including doctors, nurses, teachers and other employees are working,'' Dr Shah told a local media outlet of Dharan. 'The government doesn't pay the salary of hospital staff and we are economically stressed to manage on our own due to lack of funds.''  -- RSS  

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