Kathmandu

The government has decided to remove the 3 percent equity fee that had been imposed on private education and health services. Prime Minister Balendra Shah, through a post on social media, stated that the decision was reviewed because the implementation of the fee had placed an additional financial burden on the general public and had led to widespread dissatisfaction.

According to Prime Minister Shah, after consultation with Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle, it was decided not to implement the Education Equity Fee and the Health Equity Fee with immediate effect. He stated that the government is sensitive to the sentiments and needs of the people and clarified that policies will be formulated with public trust at the center.

He said that the government has been working by prioritizing good governance, easy service delivery, and improving the living standards of citizens. The Prime Minister also mentioned that the original objective of the equity fee was to provide quality education and health services to citizens living in remote and underdeveloped areas, support Dalit, marginalized, and economically disadvantaged children, and mobilize the necessary resources for the health insurance program.

However, he stated that the government has stepped back after taking seriously the feedback and concerns raised by citizens regarding the fee. Reaffirming the government’s commitment to building an equitable society, Prime Minister Shah indicated that other effective alternatives would be explored to achieve that goal.