Kathmandu, Feb. 19 -- Amid uncertainties over the resumption of healthcare funding from the USAID, the Ministry of Health and Population has said it would prioritise essential healthcare programmes while preparing the annual budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

Officials say the impact of aid suspension by the US, Nepal's leading development partner, is already being felt, and they are bracing for further consequences in the coming days.

"We will prioritise our health care programmes based on the changing circumstances," said Dr Prakash Budhathoky, spokesman at the Health Ministry. "We will not let basic healthcare programmes be disrupted by the aid suspension. We will categorise healthcare programmes into priority 1, priority 2 and pri...