Covid-crisis targeted programmes launched
KATHMANDU, MAY 28
The Government of Nepal unveiled the budget for fiscal year 2021/22, today.
Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel, in his budget speech, stated that an annual growth rate of around four per cent has been estimated for the next fiscal year while the projected per capita disposable income in the same period is USD 1,486.
Meanwhile, addressing the current Covid-19 crisis in the country, the Finance Minister said Rs 4 billion has been allocated for procurement of medical equipment required for hospitals for treatment of Covid-19 patients.
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Additionally, Rs 26.75 billion has been separated for procurement of Covid-19 vaccines, he added. Rs 37.57 billion was earmarked to curb the pandemic while Rs 5.60 billion has been allocated to purchase the medicines and equipment in view of controlling the pandemic.
The FM revealed that the government will waive taxes on hospital equipment required for installing oxygen plants. Likewise, Paudel shared that a 50 percent subsidy would be provided to all hospitals for installing oxygen plants.
The government has also decided not to impose taxes on the purchase of medicines, and no VAT or customs duty on import of Covid-19 related supplies.
A 300-bed hospital in Kathmandu would be built keeping in mind treatment of communicable, highly contagious and other illnesses, he added.
The Finance Minister is presenting the annual budget from Singhadurbar.
