More than half of gulmi residents join health insurance program

Over 55 percent of citizens in the Gulmi district of Nepal have enrolled in a national health insurance program.

The Health Insurance Board coordination office in Gulmi reported that 137,845 people have registered for the scheme since it launched in the district in late 2019. The program provides easier access to medical treatment as part of a social security initiative. Residents in Resunga Municipality have the highest participation with over 26,000 people enrolled, followed by Satyawati and Rurukhetra rural municipalities.

The district operates several hospitals and health centers to provide these insured services. The government provides free insurance for specific groups, including senior citizens, people living with HIV, individuals with disabilities, and those with severe skin tuberculosis. According to the board coordinator Subas Ghimire, nearly 19,000 senior citizens and over 4,000 people with disabilities have accessed these free benefits. The district employs three registration officers and 94 assistants to manage the program.