‘Nearly Half of Gandaki Residents Covered by Health Insurance’

Approximately 49% of the population in Gandaki Province is currently covered under the government’s health insurance scheme, according to data of the provincial Health Insurance Board.

Out of the province's total population of 2.47 million, around 1.21 million people are enrolled in the programme, the board’s Pokhara office revealed during an event held on Monday, April 7. 

Jiblal Kharel, Coordinator at the province’s Health Insurance Board, highlighted that the number of insured individuals in the province has been steadily increasing, and emphasized ongoing efforts to further expand coverage.

Dr. Ramesh KC, Health Administrator at the Gandaki Province Ministry of Health and Member-Secretary of the Provincial Health Insurance Coordination Committee, noted that the national health insurance programme has been operational in Nepal for the past nine years. He stressed the importance of effective coordination between beneficiaries, healthcare institutions, and the Health Insurance Board to improve the quality and efficiency of the service.

Representatives from key healthcare institutions—including Rabindra Thakur of Manipal Teaching Hospital, Bidya Bastola of Western Regional Hospital, Shiva Pokharel of Drishti Eye Hospital, and Om Thapa of Matri Shishu Hospital—along with registration officers Goma Devi Adhikari, Pramila Poudel, Tej Bahadur Darlami, and Gautam Singh Dhami, shared insights on the current status, implementation challenges, and areas for improvement in the province’s health insurance system.

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