One billion budget approved to the Ministry of Health to buy vaccine against corona

 Kathmandu. 

The Ministry of Finance has approved a budget of Rs 1 billion for the purchase of Corona vaccine. According to sources in the Ministry of Finance, Rs 500 million had been provided to the Ministry of Health to purchase the corona vaccine.

An additional Rs 500 million was approved on Tuesday, the ministry said. The Ministry of Finance had deposited Rs 500 million. This amount can be used by the Ministry of Health for the purchase of vaccines.

Earlier, a cabinet meeting held on Tuesday decided to purchase 2 million doses of vaccine from India. An advance was demanded from the health department for that purpose.

Accordingly, the finance ministry has approved the budget. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had promised to vaccinate all citizens within the next three months. Amending that, the Prime Minister himself has informed that free corona vaccine has been given to the priority citizens within three months and to all the citizens within a year.

Estimated that Rs 48 billion is needed for vaccination

The Government of India has provided one million doses of vaccine to Nepal. In addition, China has said it will provide 500,000 doses of the vaccine. Apart from this, the government will have to procure other necessary vaccines. 

The Ministry of Finance has estimated that it will cost Rs 48 billion to buy the vaccine alone. This is the expenditure incurred outside the appropriation budget of the current Fiscal Year.

This year, the finance ministry is under pressure to raise additional funds only for general elections and vaccinations. The government has given priority to the expenditure under these two headings to increase the current expenditure this year.

How will the budget be Collected?

According to the Ministry of Finance, the resources received from the donor body will be utilized to the maximum for the corona vaccine and the funds required for the election. Apart from this, the Ministry of Finance has taken the policy of making budget surrender from unspent programs and projects.

7 billion resources assured to the Election Commission

Finance has already secured Rs 7 billion for the Election Commission. However, the total amount of election expenses has not been decided yet.

 

The Ministry of Finance has committed to provide funds to the Election Commission on the basis of need.

 

Expenditure on corona vaccination and epidemic management so far in the current fiscal year

• ·        Fund set up by NRB to run businesses affected by Covid 19: 1 billion
• ·        Covid 19 Management: 534.4 million
• ·        Covid Vaccine Fund: 500 million
• ·        Sanction given to the Ministry of Health to purchase vaccines: 500 million