Two out of three deaths in Nepal are blamed on non-communicable diseases, but the Ministry of Health and Population has cut the budget by around two thirds this year meant for medicines used to treat non-communicable diseases free of cost compared to the funds allocated last fiscal year.

According to officials at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, only Rs40 million has been allocated to purchase medicines for noncommunicable diseases to be distributed free of charge from state-run health facilities across the country.

Last year, Rs 135 million was set aside for purchasing medicines for the treatment of non-communicable diseases—hypertension, diabetes, chronic pulmonary disease and mental health—meant for free distribution from health facilities in 51 districts.

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