Jan 29, Kathmandu - In the past six years, 53 percent of citizens in Gulmi have joined the health insurance program. Recently, the number of citizens who have health insurance in the district has started increasing. As citizens have gradually started understanding the importance of the health insurance program, their attraction towards health insurance has started increasing.

According to the latest statistics, 131,127 people have joined health insurance. Among the 12 local levels in the district, Resunga Municipality is the most in terms of number of people who have health insurance. 25,212 people have joined insurance in that municipality.

Similarly, 14,217 have become insured in Rurukshetra Rural Municipality. Based on the population in the municipalities in the district, Rurukshetra Rural Municipality has the highest number of insured citizens, informed Subash Ghimire, Coordinator and Registration Officer of the Health Insurance Board Gulmi.

Chairman Yadu Gyawali said that citizens have actively participated in the health insurance registration campaign in Rurukshetra Rural Municipality recently. He said that there is a plan to provide 90 percent insurance coverage within the municipality in this fiscal year.

Chairman Gyawali informed that the program has been taken forward more effectively by connecting the poor and helpless citizens with the health insurance program.

Similarly, 8,261 people in Musikot Municipality, 6,517 in Chandrakot Rural Municipality, 10,733 in Dhurkot Rural Municipality, 12,573 in Chhatrakot Rural Municipality and 10,431 in Gulmidurbar have joined the health insurance program.

Similarly, 7,790 in Ishma Rural Municipality, 6,821 in Kaligandaki, 3,932 in Madane Rural Municipality, 8,451 in Malika Rural Municipality and 16,190 in Satyawati Rural Municipality have joined the health insurance program.

Ghimire, the registration officer of the Health Insurance Board, said that 53 percent of the citizens based on the total population in the district have joined the health insurance program in the past six years. Seven hospitals in the district, including Gulmi Hospital, District Eye Treatment Center Tamghas, Dhurkot Basic Hospital, Gulmi Durbar Basic Hospital, Shringa Primary Health Center, Ruru Primary Health Center and Johang Primary Health Center, are providing health insurance services.

Registration Officer Ghimire said that the number of people taking health insurance in the district is increasing compared to previous years. There are two employees and 94 registered assistants in the district for the health insurance program.