KATHMANDU: The British government has pledged a financial assistance of pound sterling 85 million, equivalent to around Rs 12.07 billion, to Nepal to support the implementation of National Health Sector Strategy (NHSS).

Chief of International Economic Cooperation Coordination Division and Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Finance Ministry, Baikuntha Aryal, and Deputy Head of UK Department of International Development (DFID)-Nepal, Mark Smith, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the support today.

"The UK will provide £85 million over 4.5 years (July 2016 to December 2020) to support the delivery of the Government of Nepal’s Nepal Health Sector Strategy 2015-2020," the US Embassy in Nepal said, " £57 million will be financial aid to the Department of Health and £28 million will be technical assistance. Of the £85 million, £20 million will support the retrofitting and rehabilitation of hospitals in earthquake-affected and at-risk areas."

"Support will include restoring health services in areas affected by the 2015 earthquake, building on similar support offered post-earthquake, and improving the quality and governance of health services nationwide."

The UK aid support to the health sector would help improve the health of women, children, the poor and the marginalised in Nepal, according to the statement.