All services under health insurance have been closed at the Tribhuvan University (TU) Teaching Hospital in Maharajgunj. After learning that the insurance-related services have been closed, patients who came for treatment and their relatives are inquiring around the hospital. They are running for treatment. Some are sitting near the counter where health insurance is written. After all the insurance-related services have been closed, patients who came from different districts for treatment are in a hurry.

Bhunamaya Tamang, 65, a resident of Hile-9, Dhankuta, has been in Kathmandu for two days. She had come to Tribhuvan University for treatment after being diagnosed with thyroid and cholesterol problems. Bhunamaya, who had come with the idea of ​​easily getting insurance services, had not heard the news that all insurance-related services had been closed since Magh 1. She is disappointed that she has been deprived of the services she can get from insurance even after suffering from a distance. ‘It is good that we can get treatment here. I came because it is cheaper to get medicine and treatment through insurance,’ she said. ‘They say that all health insurance treatments are closed. I came because it is cheap. What is the use when it costs as much as in private.’ Bhunamaya had come to Kathmandu only for treatment. She says that when the insurance was closed, patients like her who came for treatment from outside districts were affected. She says that health insurance should be continued. Similarly, Jayashree Bajracharya, who came from Patan village for treatment, says she was saddened to learn that all health insurance services were closed. Jayanti, who was about to undergo a uterine surgery, came to know about the closure of the insurance facility after coming to the hospital. ‘Everything from medicines to surgery expenses used to be cheap. They say that insurance has been closed, but now it is a pity that expensive treatment costs will have to be incurred,’ she said. ‘Even when the hospital closed such a good service for the benefit of the public, the government has not said anything. It would have been better if the insurance had been continued.’

Similarly, Jeevan Bhandari, a resident of Sindhupalchowk-3, came for a general health check-up. He says, ‘I had read the news that health insurance was being closed under Tribima. Many people are not aware of the closure. I saw the pain from afar. The problem should have been solved and the insurance continued,’ he said. ‘The insurance was a great relief. Such good programs should be continuous. He says that insurance has given great relief to every person.

Shyam Bahadur, 46, of Sindhuli Sunkoshi Rural Municipality, and Mina Magar wish that insurance would not be discontinued when they visit patients in the hospital. They say, ‘Since good treatment is available at a low cost, even ordinary people would be able to get treatment easily. It is said that if insurance is discontinued, treatment cannot be done,’ he said, ‘Is it because of the election time? Such a big issue has been overshadowed. Let insurance start soon.’