KATHMANDU, Aug 18: Nepali Congress Chief Whip Basana Thapa has questioned the government’s decision to spend millions of rupees to airlift a minister to Kathmandu for medical treatment while people in Karnali continue to struggle to access even basic healthcare.
Speaking at the House of Representatives meeting on Tuesday, Thapa questioned why helicopters are readily available to evacuate ministers, while ordinary citizens in need of urgent medical care are often left without access to hospitals.
An urgent plea to protect healthcare providers
She also took a swipe at ministers posted to Karnali, saying those accustomed to drinking mineral or jar water in Kathmandu often struggle to adjust to the food and water when they travel to the remote province.
“People do not receive relief. They do not even get paracetamol. Pregnant women cannot reach hospitals on time. But ministers are brought to Kathmandu by helicopter at a cost of millions of rupees,” she said. “A government that can spend Rs 3–3.5 million to bring a minister to Kathmandu cannot spend Rs 300,000 to provide relief to its citizens.”
Thapa also accused the government of failing to provide even a cylinder of cooking gas to people struggling to make ends meet, questioning its commitment to ensuring equal access to state resources and services.
