Health sector makes notable improvements

By Pallav Bhusal,Kathmandu, Dec. 28: The government led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ is making notable improvements in major health sector indicators.

The Health Ministry has demonstrated its primary commitment to strengthening healthcare services at both local and national levels. The ministry has passed dozens of pending strategic medical action plans including on sexual violence and mental health and financial strategies.

According to Dr. Prakash Budathoki, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population, it has asked health workers to return to their designated workplace. “Health Minister Mohan Bahadur Basnet has said that many health workers were taking deputation (kaaj) and are not working at their work location, mainly in rural areas. We have recognised nearly 800 health workers working outside their designated location and asked them to return for service,” added Budathoki.

Similarly, Budathoki informed that the government has sent around 500 health workers who studied under government scholarships to rural areas for services.

“Another major development the government has ushered is the introduction of telemedicine services. Under this service, senior doctors residing in the urban areas can consult with doctors and patients in the rural areas through internet and telephone services,” he said.

Use of this advance technology will help in the O.P.D. registration system and an electronic healthcare record, improving overall service for the patients, he added. 

The World Health Organisation has recently presented a report saying that Nepal needs nearly 92,100 healthcare workers for the smooth operation of the health sector across the country.

“Currently, we have around 30,000 manpower delivering services in the health sector. This year the ministry has asked the local, provincial and central government to work together and come up with the required number of manpower to hire medical workers,” said Budathoki. 

The government plans to add another 30,000 health workers to boost health services across the country.

“The health ministry is working with the Education Ministry and Nepal Medical Education Commission to amend the medical education act to give opportunities to young people who desire to study medical subjects within the country,” added Budathoki.

The government has provided free medical services to economically disadvantaged citizens and elderly people.

“There are around 3,000 beds across the country providing free services to financially disadvantaged groups and elderly people. We have also asked private hospitals to allocate 10 per cent beds for economically disadvantaged citizens,” informed Budathoki.

The government has also constituted a committee to effectively implement insurance packages for health services.

Budathoki informed that the government has decided to start joint payment system which includes paying a 10 per cent service fee for expensive services and medicines. “We have started this policy so as to discourage the tendency of only taking advantage of the insurance system. This will help identify real economically disadvantaged citizens and these groups of people will not have to pay the 10 per cent fees to avail of medical services,” he said.

All levels of government have come together to plan a fee structure in the health sector to ease and reduce the cost of medical treatment of Nepali citizens.

Likewise, the government has already completed the construction of 26 basic hospitals as a part of building hospitals at all local levels.

“The government has already allocated budget and plans to complete the construction of 100 basic hospitals this year. But, the local levels are providing health services by leasing buildings and operating hospitals,” said Budathoki. 

With the establishment of federalism, the government has made many improvements and fulfilled commitments in the health sector. With a rising population and lack of adequate manpower the government is continuously working to provide health services across the country by recognising problems and solving them quickly.