Nepal Government Made Public the Details of the Expenditure on Covid-19:
The government has so far made public the details of the expenditure of around Rs 8.39 billion for the prevention and control of Coronavirus (Covid-19) infection.
It is said that the expenditure was incurred for the construction of corona testing laboratory, isolation, construction of corona hospital and quarantine, purchase of medicines, and health materials. The first swab samples collected on suspicion of infection in Nepal were sent to Hong Kong for testing. The government has set up more than 20 laboratories in the country in a period of three months due to a lack of quality and well-organized laboratories. One lakh 58 thousand 50 Nepali from different countries including India are currently in quarantine.
According to sources in the Ministry of Finance, Rs. 985 million has been spent on the construction of health infrastructure through the Ministry of Health and Population alone. Similarly, Rs 1.49 billion was spent on procurement of medicines and health items, Rs 41.98 million on quarantine management, and Rs 134.31 million on other miscellaneous expenses.
The Ministry of Health and Population has disbursed Rs 2.71 billion, of which Rs 1.58 billion has been spent so far.
Similarly, out of the Rs 2.38 billion disbursed in the Ministry of Defense, Rs 2.40 billion has been spent, according to a ministry source. Out of which, Rs 2.36 billion has been spent on the purchase of medicines and health items. Similarly, Rs 1.29 crore has been spent on quarantine construction and Rs 3.5 million on various other items.
According to the ministry, Rs 24.58 million has been spent through the home ministry. Similarly, it has been found that Rs 6.5 million has been released in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has spent Rs 52 million out of Rs 60 million. Similarly, Rs. 14.2 million has been spent in the Ministry of Urban Development and Rs. Out of which, the budget of the Ministry of Urban Development has been spent on quarantine construction. Similarly, Rs 140 million has been spent on the construction of health infrastructure and Rs 17.5 million on the purchase of medicines and health items through the provincial Ministry of Social Development.
Similarly, Rs 269.78 million has been spent on technology development and alternative learning through the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, according to a ministry source. A total of Rs 5.62 billion has been disbursed in eight ministries involved in the control and prevention of corona infection, of which Rs 4.10 billion has been spent, according to a ministry source.
Similarly, Rs 1.30 billion has been spent through the province government. Accordingly, Province 1 has 193.56 million, Province 2 has 13.39 million 46 thousand, Bagmati Province has 136.7 million, Gandaki has 154.21 million, Province 5 has 77.93 million and Karnali has 239.2 million. 83 lakh and Far Sudurpaschim Province has spent Rs. 364.87 million.
Similarly, Rs 2.98 billion has been spent from the local level, said a source.
