Kathmandu: The government has approved the “Indigent Citizen’s Medication Programme Operation Directive, 2080 BS (First Amendment 2082 BS),” mandating that patients with chronic illnesses must enroll in the government’s Health Insurance Scheme to qualify for monetary aid.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the revised directive has been initiated by the Ministry of Health and Population, integrating the Social Health Security Programme into a streamlined one-door system, effective from Kartik 1 (October 17, 2025). This new provision requires indigent patients suffering from eight chronic diseases-heart disease, kidney disease, cancer, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, spinal injury, head injury, and sickle cell anemia-to enroll in the health insurance program to access financial assistance. The Health Insurance Board will manage these payments.
The Health Insurance Board is now responsible for disbursing government grants for chronic illness treatment. Therefore, patients currently receiving aid or those who wish to apply for future grants must join the insurance scheme. The Ministry has advised beneficiaries currently receiving grants to enroll in the insurance programme by mid-October to ensure they continue receiving uninterrupted services.
To support the implementation of this revised directive, the Ministry has dispatched a letter to both the Health Insurance Board and the Nursing and Social Security Division, as stated by Ministry spokesperson Dr Prakash Budhathoki.