Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel has directed customs officials to speed up the process to import medicines and medical equipment that are necessary in the fight against the coronavirus in the country. He also urged the officials to streamline the process to bring in such goods to Nepal.
During a virtual meeting held today, Minister Poudel asked the director-general and deputy director-general of the Department of Customs and the chiefs of various customs offices to facilitate the process. He directed the concerned officials to simplify and hasten the process to import liquid oxygen, oxygen cylinder, oxygen plant and its spare parts along with other necessary medical supplies that are brought by the federal, provincial, or local government bodies, NGOs, and private sector.
Minister Poudel said that it is necessary to speed up the customs process to import such medical supplies at a time when the country is grappling with the second wave of the coronavirus. However, he urged the officials to strictly follow all the necessary health safety measures while performing their duty.
Meanwhile, the finance minister also directed the officials to submit the details of the quantity and price of the medical supplies that are imported for the treatment of COVID-19 patients on a daily basis.
During the meeting, Finance Secretary Sishir Kumar Dhungana directed the customs officials to frame streamlined guidelines for the import of medical goods meant for the treatment of COVID patients. Ram Sharan Pudasaini,
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