Need to Rethink Health Priorities to Achieve Universal Health Coverage

 Kathmandu, July 18 – Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), Dr. Bikash Devkota, has stressed the need to align health resources with the country’s real needs in order to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Speaking at a workshop in Kathmandu on prioritizing health programs, he said UHC is not just about increasing funding, but about using existing resources wisely and targeting the right services and people.

The workshop, titled “Priority Setting for Universal Health Coverage,” was organized by MoHP in collaboration with the Bergen Centre for Ethics and Priority Setting in Health (BCEPS), University of Bergen (UiB). It brought together health officials, development partners, researchers, and civil society members to discuss ways to strengthen Nepal’s Essential Health Care Package (EHCP).

Dr. Devkota emphasized the need for data-driven decisions and better implementation of existing health policies. “We have the policies in place; now the focus should be on making them work on the ground,” he said.

In the opening session, Dr. Krishna Prasad Paudel of MoHP explained that the current EHCP includes nine major service areas and 98 essential medicines, but challenges remain in funding and service delivery. He pointed out that over half of Nepal’s healthcare costs are still paid directly by citizens out of their own pockets.

Achyut Raj Pandey, a PhD scholar at UiB, shared global examples of how countries like Pakistan, Ethiopia, and Zanzibar have successfully updated their EHCPs using data and consultations with key stakeholders. He stressed the importance of focusing on cost-effective, high-impact services.

Ravi Kanta Mishra, Senior Public Health Officer at MoHP, shared Nepal’s ongoing efforts to improve decision-making using health and economic data. He highlighted the use of the “FairChoices” tool—developed by UiB and the University of Washington—which has been tailored to Nepal’s context.

Dr. Krishna Aryal, a senior researcher at UiB, shared early results from using this tool. Over 130 health interventions have been analyzed based on cost, impact, and practicality. He said these insights will help Nepal choose health services that save the most lives with the least cost.

Participants also took part in group discussions focusing on areas like non-communicable and communicable diseases, as well as reproductive, maternal, child, and adolescent health and nutrition (RMNCAH-N). The goal is to rank interventions and finalize two main service packages—one for basic services and another for health insurance.

Dr. Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav, WHO Representative to Nepal, voiced full support for the initiative, promising technical collaboration to help Nepal build a data-driven and inclusive system. Dr. Deepak Karki from the British Embassy emphasized the need for health services that are not only effective but also affordable and accessible.

The workshop concluded with a shared commitment from all sides to help build a fairer, more efficient, and people-centered health system in Nepal.

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