May 29: The government has announced free-of-cost kidney transplant facility for patients suffering from kidney failure.

Finance Minister Janardan Sharma made the announcement while presenting the budget for the upcoming fiscal year in parliament on Sunday.

The government has also allocated Rs 200 million for all provincial hospitals to purchase dialysis machine.

According to the finance minister, the government has allocated Rs 100 million to provide free-of-cost kidney transplant service for people from backward communities.

It may be noted that former Health Minister Gagan Thapa had made arrangements for free dialysis during his tenure some years ago. Patients undergoing dialysis have to pay only a nominal fee for the service at government-run hospitals.