Kathmandu, Oct 20 

Senior leader of ruling Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) Madhav Kumar Nepal has demanded that the government withdraw its decision to not provide free treatment to all infected with COVID-19.

During a pandemic, the state must provide free treatment to all its citizens. Even the regulation related to infectious disease gives the government the responsibility to provide the treatment, hence the government cannot shy away from its duty during a time of crisis, he said.

It may be noted that the government has decided to provide free treatment to only the poor, helpless, single women, severely disabled, senior citizens and frontline workers. In response, the former Prime Minister issued a statement today stating that such decision was not right at a time when the state should be with the people as their guardian.