The payment under the drug treatment service for poor citizens will now be done through the Health Insurance Board. The payment for such services provided by the Ministry of Health and Population was previously made by the Nursing and Social Security Division of the Health Services Department.

For this, Health Minister Pradeep Paudel has approved the Poor Citizen Drug Treatment Program Operation Guideline, 2082 (First Amendment). According to the guidelines, now poor citizens have to have compulsory health insurance to get medical services. According to the ministry, after health insurance becomes mandatory, the state investment will reach the right people and the possibility of double claims will end. 

According to the data of 2080/81 of the Department of Health Services, there are 53 thousand 577 patients with 8 types of serious diseases: cancer, heart, kidney, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, head injury, spinal injury, and sickle cell anemia. According to data, 4 billion 27 lakh 59 thousand rupees were spent for their treatment under the poor citizen drug treatment service in the last financial year.

Health Minister Paudel said that according to his action plan, the guidelines have been revised to make insurance more integrated, organized and transparent. "We have made this decision to make the health insurance service more accessible and economical," he said.

Currently, various ministries and government agencies are running different social health protection programs. For example, under the social health protection program of the Ministry of Health, mother protection, free heart treatment for children under 15 years and senior citizens over 70 years of age is being operated. According to the Health Insurance Reform Recommendation Task Force Report, 2081, 12 billion rupees are spent on these programs every year. 

Similarly, it is mentioned in the report that 21 billion rupees are being spent every year under the social health security program conducted by various agencies under the government. According to the report, one and a half billion rupees are spent on drug treatment every year through the Social Security Fund operated under the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security. Free treatment is given to the Nepali army and their families through the Military Welfare Fund under the Ministry of Defence, and to the policemen and their families through the Police Welfare Fund of the Ministry of Home Affairs. 

Under the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, the Civil Hospital has arranged a 40% discount on treatment for officer-level employees and their families and 50% discount for below-officer-level and retired employees and their families. Apart from this, the Employees Provident Fund under the Ministry of Finance, Citizen Investment Fund, various banks coordinate with the insurance company and give a certain amount to the account holder for treatment. The Ministry of Health has also prepared to integrate various social health protection programs that are scattered and provide services and payments through a one-door system.

The insurance program started by the government from Kailali on 25 March 2072 has now been implemented in 77 districts. On the basis of paying 3,500 per family (up to 5 people), there is a provision to provide health facilities up to 1 lakh rupees per year and if the amount is increased at the rate of 700 per person, services equal to 20,000 per person will be added. The maximum service facility limit is up to 2 lakhs (10 family members). The insured has to pay 10% of the amount for availing the service. The insurance program is only applicable to government health institutions and private medical colleges.