During a pre-budget consultation with the Ministry of Finance, health ministry officials have demanded around $270 million to arrange vaccines against the COVID-19 infections. The amount is needed to provide vaccines to all 72 percent of the total population, Laxman Aryal, the secretary of health, was quoted as saying by The Himalayan Times. 

During the meeting, he also informed the ministry may need more funds to contain the spread of the virus. The estimated amount was only for the procurement of vaccines.

The ministry has also submitted a statement to the committee stating that the ministry has spent Rs 47 million on the identification, prevention, control, and treatment of COVID-19 till mid-April.

The ministry has stated that around $21 million is yet to be paid for the vaccination program.