KATHMANDU: The sixth meeting of the Rapti Academy of Health Sciences has approved a budget of Rs 2.74 billion for the upcoming fiscal year.

The meeting held on Sunday at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar and chaired by Prime Minister and Chancellor KP Sharma Oli, has approved policies, plans, budget, and programmes for the construction of a 400-bed hospital as well as for the educational, research, and management-related works.

The meeting has decided to amend some provisions of the ‘Regulations on the Terms and Conditions of Service for Teachers and Staff, 2078 BS’ of the institution, as well as to change the institution’s logo.

Addressing the meeting, Prime Minister Oli stated that since Nepal is the place of health science, the institution should be equipped with infrastructure and human resources to provide quality education and services.

He emphasised that expert doctors and health workers should be involved in spreading public awareness about health through mass communication and social networks, while adopting the government’s vision of a healthy Nepal.

At the meeting attended by the Pro-chancellor of the Institute and Minister of Health and Population Pradip Paudel, the Vice-Chancellor Dr. Bikash Lamichhane, informed that the implementation of the master plan for the construction of a 400-bed teaching hospital has started as approved by the fifth Senate.

Meanwhile, the second meeting of the High-level Governance Reform Commission scheduled for today has been postponed due to special reasons.