Kathmandu, March 8 -- Amid the USAID funding freeze, the Ministry of Finance, which is preparing the budget for the next fiscal year 2025-26, has set a ceiling of Rs83 billion for the Ministry of Health and Population's expenditure. This amount is Rs3 billion less than the allocation for the current fiscal year.

The government's budget cut could affect Nepal's major priority health programmes including those related to maternal and child health, immunisation, nutrition, HIV, tuberculosis, epidemic control, non-communicable diseases, and mental health, officials say.

"USAID used to step in where the government's investment fell short," said Dr Prakash Budhathoky, spokesperson for the health ministry. "We are unsure if USAID-funded progra...