Kathmandu, January 24

State minister for Industry Meghraj Nepali Nishad, who is also a kidney patient, today said he would resign from his post if the government failed to meet the demands of kidney patients.

Speaking at a function organised by National Kidney Victims Association Nepal, Minister Nishad said, “The designation of state minister isn’t of much importance to me because I am a kidney patient first and then a state minister.

I will be talking to all concerned, from the health minister to prime minister, and request them to fulfil the demands of kidney patients. If their demands are not fulfilled, I will resign and join with them in the protest.”

Minister Nishad said many poor people suffering from kidney failure were forced to die for want of treatment as the treatment is very costly in the country.

“It is the state’s responsibility to save the lives of public who are dying due to want of money for treatment,” he said.

He further said the government should develop international standard infrastructure within the country for the treatment of kidney patients and it should be cheaper as well as accessible to every Nepalis.

He also expressed his commitment to take initiatives for it.

The seven-point demand made public by NKVAN includes free dialysis and kidney transplantation, inclusion of education related to kidney diseases in the school curriculum, discount in public transportation to the kidney patients and inclusion of kidney patients in the list of physically challenged, among others.