Experts and officials are urging Nepal to reassess its health priorities in order to reach Universal Health Coverage (UHC). They emphasize the need to focus not just on increasing funding, but also on making smarter decisions about which services and populations to prioritize.

Kathmandu – Nepal’s progress toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) depends not just on funding but also on smart planning and targeting the right health services and populations, said Dr. Bikash Devkota, Secretary at the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), during a workshop held in Kathmandu.

The event, focused on reviewing and reprioritizing the Essential Health Care Package (EHCP), was jointly organized by the MoHP and the Bergen Centre for Ethics and Priority Setting in Health (BCEPS), University of Bergen. Dr. Devkota stressed the need for better use of existing resources, data-driven decisions, and strong implementation of health policies. “We have the right policies, but weak execution is holding us back,” he said.

The workshop brought together government officials, development partners, researchers, and civil society members to strengthen Nepal’s EHCP.

In the opening session, Dr. Krishna Prasad Paudel of MoHP explained that while Nepal’s EHCP currently covers nine key service areas and includes 98 essential medicines, there are still major challenges in financing and access. “Over half of health spending in Nepal still comes directly from people’s own pockets,” he pointed out.

Achyut Raj Pandey, a PhD scholar at the University of Bergen, shared case studies from Pakistan, Zanzibar, Ethiopia, and Afghanistan—countries that used evidence and stakeholder input to build more effective health care packages. He emphasized the importance of using data and economic analysis for better results.

Ravi Kanta Mishra, a senior public health officer at MoHP, discussed how Nepal is adapting international tools like FairChoices (developed by UiB and the University of Washington) to support data-informed decisions. This is part of Nepal’s broader Health Sector Strategic Plan (2023–2030).

Dr. Krishna Aryal, a researcher at UiB, shared preliminary findings using FairChoices. Over 130 health interventions were analyzed for cost-effectiveness, impact, and practicality. “We now have a clearer picture of which services save the most lives at the lowest cost,” he said.

Participants also took part in group discussions on priorities in tackling non-communicable and communicable diseases, and improving maternal, child, and adolescent health and nutrition (RMNCAH-N).

The closing session, led by BCEPS and MoHP, outlined how health interventions would be ranked based on both data and expert input. Finalized packages will fall into two categories: essential basic services and those included in health insurance.

Dr. Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav, WHO Representative to Nepal, reaffirmed WHO’s support, saying, “We’re committed to helping Nepal develop inclusive, evidence-based processes.”

Dr. Deepak Karki, Health Advisor at the British Embassy and Chair of External Development Partners, added, “If we want to achieve UHC, services must not only be high-quality but also affordable and accessible to the people who need them most.”

The workshop concluded with a shared pledge by all participants to work together to build a more fair, efficient, and people-centered health system in Nepal.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

First National Bamboo Conference Happening Now

KHOTANG, February 28 – The First National Bamboo Conference is currently being held in Diktel Bazaar, running from February 27 to March 1. The event was officially opened at the Khotang Multi-Purpose Covered Hall, and an exhibition showcasing various bamboo products is taking place nearby at the Matikore playground. The event is organized mainly by Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi Municipality. Even the welcome gate and stage at the venue are built using bamboo. The exhibition features 51 stalls displaying items made from bamboo, along with local agricultural products. Mayor Tirtha Raj Bhattarai shared that traditional Nepali bamboo swings—lingle ping and rote ping—have been set up for entertainment. Over 300 guests from outside the district are attending the conference. During the event, bamboo experts will present 23 papers under the theme: “Where there is bamboo, there is life; where there is life, there is bamboo.” Other co-organizers include the Forest Research and Training Centre (Bab...
Read more

Gold prices keep going up

  Kathmandu, June 18 — Gold prices have been rising in the international market since June 10, and this has also pushed up prices in Nepal. When the market opened today, the price of gold had gone up by Rs 900 per tola (11.66 grams) compared to Tuesday, while silver rose by Rs 65 per tola. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, gold is now being traded at Rs 195,500 per tola, and silver at Rs 2,225 per tola. International reports show that gold is currently priced at 3,393 US dollars per ounce in the global market.
Read more

Dengue cases are spreading rapidly in Chitwan.

Narayangadh (Chitwan), July 20 In the fiscal year 2024/25, a total of 3,889 people were confirmed to have dengue in Chitwan district. According to the Public Health Office, 3,020 of these cases were local residents—1,548 men and 1,472 women. The remaining 869 cases involved people from other districts—412 men and 457 women. Bharatpur Metropolitan City recorded the highest number of cases with 1,171 infections, while Madi Municipality had the fewest, with just 37 cases. One person died from the disease during the year. A total of 17,353 dengue tests were conducted throughout the year. Ram KC, a Vector Control Inspector at the Public Health Office, mentioned that the previous year had 1,831 confirmed cases out of 23,840 tests. Dengue was first detected in Nepal in 2004, in a Japanese tourist visiting Chitwan. The Public Health Office emphasized that the best way to prevent dengue is by protecting yourself from mosquito bites.
Read more