KATHMANDU: Contrary to media reports that Minister for Health and Population Uma Kanta Chaudhary embarked on a visit to Germany on his own, it has been revealed that the cabinet had granted him the permission.

Chaudhary’s visit to participate in a seminar there at a time when hundreds of people were dying in the country due to diarrhoea had drawn the flak from lawmakers, politicians and the public.

The cabinet meeting of July 8 had approved the visit. “The cabinet decides to send Minister for Health and Population Uma Kant Chaudhary to Germany for an observation related to health safety, health issues and federalism,” states decision No 22.

He did not obtain the permission of the cabinet for the visit, prime minister’s press advisor Bishnu Rijal had quoted PM Nepal as saying. The PM had reportedly asked Chaudhary to cut the visit short.