Bhaktapur: Minister for Health and Population, Dr. Sudha Gautam, has pledged to address the existing challenges in the national health insurance program.

Speaking at the 31st anniversary celebration of Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital and the inauguration of its new laboratory building on Monday, Minister Gautam said that the constitution guarantees citizens the right to free health care, and the government is committed to fulfilling that promise.

She emphasized that local governments must ensure the free distribution of medicines through basic hospitals, health posts, and community health institutions. The federal government, she added, has provided a conditional grant to support this initiative.

On another note, Minister Gautam stated that the government’s primary focus is on conducting the House of Representatives election on March 5 in a free, fair, and credible manner. She called for cooperation from all sectors to help encourage voter participation.

Other speakers at the event highlighted the need to enhance the efficiency and quality of services provided by Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital to better serve patients across the country.