Kathmandu, December 7

Students studying at Tribhuvan University and its constituent colleges across the country will now receive refund amount up to Rs 90,000 spent in medical check-ups at government hospitals.

Student Welfare and Sports Directorate of TU has introduced the system of providing refund of up to 90 per cent of Rs 100,000 to students, on producing the medical bills of hospitals at the colleges. The money, however, will be provided only to cover hospital expenses such as various tests, lab charges, doctors’ charge and bed charge, excluding pharmaceutical drug expenses.

TU has also formed Student Health Check-up Fund for the purpose, which has now fixed deposit of over Rs 80 million, according to TU Registrar Dilli Ram Upreti. The fund was created by collecting Rs 500 from the admission fee charged from students.

This is not the first time TU has introduced the scheme. TU had, four years ago, introduced similar scheme to provide up to Rs 50,000 to students who sought medical treatment. Only around 200 students had taken benefit from the programme last year.

“This year we are circulating the notice to all colleges and informing students about the scheme, so that more students take advantage,” Upreti said.

To claim refund, students will have to write application to the colleges concerned. The colleges will then, after verifying the bill amount and student’s health condition, recommend the TU’s SSD to release the fund.

To get the refund, students  will have to undergo medical check-up only at TU’s Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj; Gandaki Medical College Teaching Hospital, Pokhara; Dhaualagiri Zonal Hospital, Baglung; Surkhet Provincial Hospital, Surkhet; and Bheri Zonal Hospital, Nepalgunj.

Ganga Thapa, head of SSD, said they were working to increase the number of government hospitals where students could go for medical check-up.

“In case of diseases that  cannot be treated in the country, the SSD will provide  extra fund up to Rs 200,000 to facilitate students to go abroad for treatment,” Thapa said.

Students, however, will not be provided grant for dentistry, plastic surgery or for pregnancy. Similarly, students suffering from chronic diseases before joining the colleges will also not be granted any amount. TU currently has 62 constituent colleges.