Broadsheet dailies published in Kathmandu on Wednesday have given importance to a host of issues on their front pages. The passage of the ‘universal health insurance’ bill has received attention from almost all newspapers, and the country’s two main communist parties’ bid to forge an electoral alliance has also received priority.
Important
Nepal’s Parliament has passed a key piece of legislation that will pave the way for universal health insurance in the country. In this context, The Himalayan Times says the bill has provisioned insurance coverage of treatment expenses for all citizens. Those insured will get services like yoga, immunisation, in-patient care and other services. The Kathmandu Post calls the bill a ‘landmark’ move towards ensuring universal health care. The paper quotes Health Minister Girirajmani Pokharel to say that the government will pay the insurance premium for poor citizens. Nagarik quotes former Health Minister Gagan Thapa, who was the chief architect of the bill, as saying that the new bill will make it easier for people to access healthcare as well as be screened on a regular basis.
Left forces struggle to thrash out details
Following the decision by Nepal’s two major political parties to forge a ‘communist alliance’ for the upcoming elections, representatives from the Maoist Centre and the UML have been negotiating the terms of the deal. However, reaching a consensus has proven to be difficult for both the parties, says The Kathmandu Post. Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress is also busy looking for candidates to contest the upcoming elections. Kantipur says while top leaders of the UML have decided to contest under the first-past-the-post system, 68 district units of the Nepali Congress have sent recommendations to the party HQ on selecting candidates for the upcoming elections.
Naya Patrika reports that none of the established political leaders in major parties are willing to contest elections for the provincial assembly. This is making it difficult for the parties to choose candidates for the Chief Minister post in the provinces. Similarly, Rajdhani says the main opposition has warned the Nepali Congress not to tamper with the Cabinet ahead of elections. Earlier, it was reported that the Prime Minister was in the mood to fire the Maoist ministers in his Cabinet after nominations for the elections are filed.
Talks between KC and govt inconclusive
Naya Patrika says talks between representatives of the government and Dr Govinda KC, who has been fasting to death for the 13th time demanding reforms in medical education, have been inconclusive. The report says that KC has accused the Education Minister of not being serious about the issue. KC has demanded that the recommendations of the Mathema committee be incorporated into the new Medical Education Bill.
Govt provides security to top builders in the city
The government has provided police protection to top 10 builders based in Kathmandu, a day after the president of the Federation of the Contractors’ Association of Nepal Sharad Kumar Gauchan was shot dead in the Capital on Monday. According to Karobar, the Ministry of Home Affairs has deployed police personnel to provide security to Jip Chhiring Lama, Sakunta Lal Hirachan, Krishna Prasad Gautam, Ram Prasad Deuja, Roshan Dahal, Ramji Panta and Suresh Dahal, among others. Nagarik reports that the contractors in the city have warned of severe protests if the murderers are not caught soon. The Himalayan Times says police are still clueless about the incident.
Interesting
Weather balloon to help weathermen
Kantipur, in its anchor for the day, says that from February next year, meteorology officials in Kathmandu will launch weather balloons into the atmosphere at 5.45 am every day from Kirtipur. The report says that the balloon will fly 20 km above the surface of the earth and provide key weather information to its handlers on the ground. Nepal’s weathermen had been using data from the ground to issue forecasts, which have not been very accurate. They believe that the balloon will help improve the forecasts.
