Experts Push for Health Reforms as Nepal Starts Lancet CIH Chapter

 Kathmandu:

The Nepal Chapter of the Lancet Commission on Investing in Health (Nepal CIH) was launched in Kathmandu on Friday. Experts at the event emphasized the need for evidence-based, fair, and cost-effective health interventions to achieve universal health coverage, supported by strategic health financing reforms.

Health Minister Pradip Paudel, who will chair Nepal CIH’s high-level Policy Advisory Group, attended the launch. Nepal CIH is a network of academics and policymakers working together to provide evidence and guide smarter health policies. It will include a National Commission of experts and a Policy Advisory Group with senior policymakers, politicians, and key health system actors.

Minister Paudel highlighted the need for a forum to discuss health sector issues at the policy level. He said, “The constitution promises free basic health care and affordable specialized services, but avoiding this responsibility creates frustration.”

Prof. Shiva Adhikari, Vice-Chair of the National Planning Commission and Chair of Nepal CIH, presented on redesigning Nepal’s health financing system. He noted challenges such as low public health spending, high out-of-pocket costs, fragmented insurance schemes, and inefficient resource use, and stressed the importance of mobilizing domestic resources and pooling funds to strengthen financial protection.

In a video message, Prof. Ole Frithjof Norheim from Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health said, “Halving premature deaths by 2050 is possible for Nepal.” Dr. David Watkins from the University of Washington added, “Smart prioritization works even with limited budgets, and Nepal can make steady progress now.”

Dr. Krishna Aryal, Senior Researcher at the University of Bergen and Nepal CIH Coordinator, emphasized that health spending should ensure equity and efficiency, supporting Nepal’s goal of improving health while protecting families from financial hardship.

A panel discussion on Nepal’s health financing schemes highlighted ongoing challenges. Dr. Krishna Poudel from the Ministry of Health said, “Investment has been insufficient, and even what we have is not spent effectively. Health insurance is transformative in design but limited in practice.” Dr. Deepak Karki, Health Advisor at the British Embassy, stressed efficiency: “Every rupee should be used wisely.” Anna Koziel from the World Bank noted, “Health is not just a cost but an investment that drives economic growth.”

MoHP Secretary Dr. Bikash Devkota closed the event by saying, “Health is everyone’s responsibility, not just the ministry’s. Academia, researchers, the private sector, and all government bodies must work together to build an evidence-based system.”

The launch was attended by over 80 policymakers and academics and was organized by Nepal CIH with the Nepal Health Economics Association (NHEA), with support from BCEPS and Norway’s Norad. Moving forward, Nepal CIH plans to study health financing gaps, out-of-pocket spending, and resource efficiency to guide smarter health investments. The chapter’s secretariat is hosted at NHEA.

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