Kathmandu. Health Minister Dr Yubaraj Khatiwada said that the health insurance system has been facing problems after the ministry started spending more than the budget allocated by the ministry. Sudha Gautam said.

Necessary reforms have been initiated to run the health insurance in a systematic way, while speaking at a programme organized on the occasion of 30th anniversary of Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre here today.

According to him, the problem surfaced after more was spent on insurance payment than the budget received in the ministry. “The current situation is due to the tendency of doctors examining patients, prescribing medicines and patients claiming insurance unnecessarily,” said Sharma, adding, “The government is seriously working to address this.” ”

Stating that the entire burden of health insurance lies only on the federal government, she stressed the need of coordination among all three tiers of government to make the health insurance programme a success.

She also made it clear that the government would immediately provide the amount and social services to be provided by the hospital for the treatment of the indigent citizens. Appreciating the contribution of the hospital in the field of heart treatment, Minister Sharma pledged that the government would provide support in the expansion of specialist services and improvement in the quality of heart treatment.

Executive Director of the hospital, Prof. Dr. On the occasion, Prof Dr Rabi Malla said that Gangalal had been rendering high-level services in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart diseases. The hospital which started its services in 2056 BS with nine beds has now been providing services through 305 beds, he said.

Senior heart surgeon Dr. Ramesh Koirala complained that Gangalal Hospital was not given priority during the Genji movement. Last year alone, the hospital performed surgeries on 1,990 patients, he said.