President Ram Chandra Poudel has been doing his treatment in India for the last five days. After he became unconscious at his residence in Kathmandu, he went into treatment at Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu. He was rushed to India in a chartered airplane for treatment. He will return to Nepal within a week after getting discharged.
President Ram Chandra Poudel was admitted to the Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj. According to the doctors, he had diabetes and a chest problem due to gastric reflux, which made him unconscious. Although he was not in a critical situation, he was getting better in the Teaching Hospital. Doctors from the Teaching Hospital were planning to do the treatment in Nepal, which was possible, but all of a sudden President Poudel was rushed towards India for further treatment.
Although the president’s secretariat has mentioned that doctors have referred patients to India, the doctor at the Teaching Hospital has clearly mentioned that treatment is possible in Nepal. Even Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, ‘Prachanda, has also mentioned this. Prachanda said, “The president’s treatment was ongoing in Nepal, but I asked him to go to India for a quick recovery. President Poudel was planning to do treatment in Nepal; I assisted him to go to India.”
Now let’s talk about the costs of the treatment of President Ram Chandra Poudel. Ram Chandra Poudel went to All India Institute of Medical Science located at New Delhi. He was taken on a chartered air ambulance. There was two chartered flights from Kathmandu to Delhi. One flight carried President Poudel and his security whereas another chartered flight carried his medical teams. The price for two chartered flights is said to be NRs. 65 lakhs.
The two way price is NRs 65 lakh for chartered flights. He went to India on Simrik Airlines’ flight. The price for air ambulance is 22.5 thousand US dollor whereas another chartered flight carrying his medical team costs 2.5 thousand US dollor. In total it costs 25 thousand US dollor. And this price is for up and down costs.
And the further costs will be the hospital charge, fooding and lodging of all the members who went to India with him. It is assumed that the costs for the treatment including transportation and lodging will reach to NRs. 1 crore. President Poudel and his team will be in India for 7-10 days.
President Ram Chandra Poudel is respected for his simplicity. His lifestyle is appreciated by his followers and it was believed that he won’t misuse the Government’s treasury like other politicians does in Nepal. Even President Poudel has not been into any controversies regarding financial issues. But this time, his treatment in India has pointed question towards him.
Nepali Congress leader Gagan Thapa has taken the initiative to introduce an act that states that Nepali politicians are not allowed to go outside Nepal for treatment on the government’s funds. They can go in their own expense. But President Poudel went to India even when his treatment was possible in Nepal. Gagan Thapa was Health Minister when he brought this act and he got huge appreciation for this. But that act is ignored this time.
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