Lalitpur Metropolitan City to Bear 40% of Health Insurance Premium for Its Residents

Kathmandu — In a significant move to enhance access to healthcare, Lalitpur Metropolitan City has announced that it will cover 40 percent of the health insurance premium for its residents. This initiative was formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on Wednesday between Lalitpur Metropolitan City and the Health Insurance Board.

The MoU was signed by Lalitpur Metropolitan City Mayor Chiribabu Maharjan and Health Insurance Board Executive Director Raghuraj Kafle.

Under this agreement, the metropolis will also fully bear the insurance premium (100%) for selected groups including municipal police, sanitation workers, drivers, toll health promoters, and single women residing within the metropolitan area.

Mayor Maharjan emphasized the city’s commitment to innovative healthcare approaches, highlighting ongoing collaborations with Patan Hospital since the Covid-19 pandemic. “The metropolis is the starting point for health services provided to its residents,” said Maharjan. He noted that with Patan Hospital’s support, the city had earlier installed an oxygen plant and helped upgrade the mortuary facility there.

The city’s health insurance program began two years ago with technical assistance from Patan Hospital. Currently, insured individuals are receiving services through the program’s first service center at the Yala Health Center. However, with rising demand, plans are underway to expand the center to a new, more suitable location.

Health Insurance Board Executive Director Raghuraj Kafle praised the city’s initiative, stating that the decision to subsidize insurance premiums reflects the metropolis’s strong commitment to the health and well-being of its citizens.