KATHMANDU: Nepali Army has expressed concern about the media reports on the misuse of the Nepali Army Welfare Fund.

Issuing a press release today, NA's Directorate of Public Relations clarified that it had utilised the NA Welfare Fund on health insurance programmes. "A total of Rs 220 million has been collected, including insurance premium from officials, and a grant from the NAWF. It has been kept in Health Insurance Fund," read the note. Serving officials are required to deposit Rs 200 per annum while retired officials need to make a one-time payment of one month's pension amount for fund membership.

In a bid to provide health service to NA officials and their kin, the national army launched this programme in 2004. NA provides Rs one million to officials and their families for treatment of a life threatening disease.