Miscellaneous
Nepal and India push health pact
Nepal and India have agreed to bilateral co-operation and partnership in health sector.Suresh Raj Neupane
Nepal and India have agreed to bilateral co-operation and partnership in health sector.
This would be on a par with other bilateral agreements on trade, commerce, agriculture and energy between Nepal and India.
Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Upendra Yadav and India’s Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prasad Nadda reached the understanding on the sidelines of the meeting of World Health Organisation (WHO) member countries of South-East Asia Region in New Delhi.
“All possible co-operation and partnerships in health sector will move ahead based on the proposed agreement and its mechanisms,” said Minister Yadav.
The system would resolve any problem and misunderstanding arise that may arise. He told the Post there is an understanding to form a panel to prepare the draft agreement.
The two countries agreed to establish secretary-level bilateral system for health sector based on the agreement, according to sources with knowledge on the topic. The system will form a separate joint-secretary level panel. It will identify areas for co-operation and partnership in heath and discuss to take it forward.
India has been supporting Nepal to control epidemics, training, scholarship and physical infrastructure development for many decades; however, there was no agreement for health sector.
The ministers also held discussions on the long overdue issue of stipends for Nepal students studying MS and MD.
Minister Yadav said India has shown positive intent to give stipends to Nepali students. It is international practice to give stipends to students of MD and MS.
Though Indian students studying in Nepal get stipends, Nepali students studying in India do not enjoy such facility. Nepali students have long been demanding stipends equivalent to Indian students. They had petitioned the Delhi High Court seeking stipend. Though the High Court issued the verdict in favour of Nepali students, Indian institutes have not implemented the order.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had reminded the stipend issue to Indian authorities during his India visit earlier in April.