KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 16

A total of Rs 1.40 billion has been mobilised in the last four months from the COVID-19 Control and Treatment Fund.

According to a report published by Financial Comptroller General Office (FCGO) on Tuesday, several donors had contributed altogether Rs 1.78 billion to the fund, while the remaining amount has been collected from various governmental bodies. Of the total collection in the fund, Rs 1.35 billion was collected in the last fiscal year, while Rs 432 million has been collected in the first four months of the current fiscal year.

Meanwhile, Rs 1.40 billion has been mobilised for COVID-19 prevention and treatment activities.

As per the FCGO, money had been transferred from the fund to various local bodies over different periods of time. While Rs 55.23 million was transferred on August 2, Rs 392 million was transferred on August 24, Rs 934 million on September 7 and 22.5 million on November 13.

According to the report of FCGO, a total of Rs 384.44 million remains in the fund now.

The fund came into operation as per the March 22 Cabinet decision. The fund has been established with an aim to spend on prevention and treatment of COVID-19 infections in the country.

A committee — comprising representatives from Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, Ministry of Health and Population and FCGO — has the authority to mobilise the fund for procurement of drugs, medical equipment and other logistics; mobilisation of human resources and development of necessary infrastructure and distribution of relief as per the decision of the Nepal government.

Amounts received from the federal government, provincial governments, local governments, foreign governments, institutions or organisations or persons, governmental and non-governmental organisations and domestic organisations or individuals to help combat the deadly virus are being collected in the fund.