Federal government sends Rs 470 million to Lumbini for pandemic control

RUPANDEHI: The Ministry of Finance has decided to provide Rs 477.85 million for the control and treatment of the pandemic in Lumbini. 

It has been decided to release Rs. 346 million for the construction of oxygen plants, ventilators, and oxygen tanks in four hospitals and Rs. 104 million for the establishment of an HDU in three hospitals of the province. 

According to the Ministry of Finance, Rs 98 million will be given to Lumbini Provincial Hospital in Butwal, Rs 150 million to Bheri Hospital Nepalgunj, Rs 68 million to Rapti Institute of Health Sciences Dang, and Rs 30 million to Bhim Hospital Bhairahawa. 

Similarly, it has been decided to provide Rs 62.54 million to Lumbini Provincial Hospital, Rs 31.27 million to Tulsipur Hospital Dang, and Rs 19.75 million to Prithvi Chandra Hospital in West Nawalparasi.

The amount will be used to build 2 units in Lumbini Provincial Hospital, 1 unit in Tulsipur Hospital, and 10 HDU beds in Prithvi Chandra Hospital.

Minister Bishnu Poudel had expressed interest in the disbursement of funds after patients suffering from COVID infection died due to a lack of ventilators and oxygen in these hospitals in the province which have been treating COVID patients.

Earlier, on the same day of taking oath, Finance Minister Poudel had resigned after announcing the decision to release Rs 1.36 billion for the establishment of HDUs in hospitals.

At the same time, the Ministry of Finance had agreed to spend Rs 4.31 billion for control of the pandemic, treatment of the infection, and improvement of the hospitals.

The Ministry of Finance on Sunday released Rs 2.95 billion for the construction of oxygen plants, ventilators, and oxygen tanks in 26 central hospitals and 35 provincial hospitals across the country for the control and treatment of COVID-19.