Kathmandu, September 10

Health Minister Gagan Thapa today said all influential political leaders and VVIPs should seek medical treatment within the country.

Thapa’s statement comes amid reports of influential political leaders and VVIPs seeking expensive treatment in foreign countries at government expense. The trend of allocating budget for the medical treatment of VVIPs in foreign countries was discriminatory, said Minister Thapa.

Inaugurating a park in Chabahil, he said, “All citizens are equal before the state. The government is covering travel and medical bills of leaders seeking medical treatment in foreign countries. On the other hand, commoners have to pay their medical bills by selling off land. This is discriminatory.”