KATHMANDU: Efforts to make Nepal’s health services more accessible and responsive have gained momentum in the two months since Dr. Sudha Sharma Gautam took charge as Minister for Health and Population, according to the Ministry.
Minister Gautam, who assumed office on October 27, said her efforts have centered on major priority areas such as mental health, medicine regulation, health insurance reform, maternal and newborn care, and services for migrant workers.
The Ministry of Health and Population has made public the progress achieved under her leadership over the past two months, stating that the initiatives aim to make the health service delivery system more efficient and people-oriented.
Key Initiatives and Progress
Health Insurance Reform: An expert committee has been formed to identify problems in the health insurance system and propose solutions. Coordination between the Health Insurance Board and the Social Security Fund has been strengthened to control costs and improve system efficiency. Work has also progressed on actuarial assessments and a restructuring plan to ensure the long-term sustainability of the insurance programme.
Drug System Reform: An expert committee has been formed to improve drug production, supply, and quality, and work has already begun. The process of upgrading the Nepal Pharmaceutical Laboratory in line with WHO, PQ, and ISO standards has been initiated. Preparations are also underway to strengthen the drug supply system at the federal, provincial, and local levels through improved organisational and management arrangements.
Procurement and Supply Chain Improvement: A procurement expert committee has been formed to make the procurement and supply of health commodities more transparent and effective. Challenges in the existing procurement process have been identified, and improvement measures have been decided. The process of updating the specification bank for health materials has also begun.
Maternal and Newborn Health: Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) services have been strengthened in hospitals across Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki, and Lumbini provinces. The assessment and prioritisation of Integrated Reproductive Health Camp (EMONC) programs have been completed at the provincial level. To reduce hypothermia among newborns, testing and distribution of hypothermia alert devices have also started.
Mental Health: Mental health services have been expanded to 16 federal hospitals. The Gen-Z Clinic, targeting adolescents and young adults, has been brought into operation. In addition, the ministry has expanded mental health awareness campaigns and school- and community-level programs.
Migrant Workers’ Health: A health assistance desk for migrant workers has been established at Tribhuvan International Airport. Services providing information on health consultations, medical tests, and social security for those seeking foreign employment have also been expanded.
Policy decision-making initiatives
During Minister Sharma’s tenure, several important policy decisions related to the health sector have been taken. These include the formation of a task force on service facilities for nursing and healthcare workers, approval of management procedures for the Gen-Z demonstration area, and endorsement of health service infection control guidelines.
The Ministry also said decisions have been made to prepare guidelines for providing subsidies to hospitals, establish a permanent mechanism for grievance hearing and good governance within the ministry, revise non-tax revenue fees, and move these reforms forward in a systematic manner.
Monitoring, Inspections and Visits Intensified
To assess the actual condition of health service delivery, Minister Dr. Sharma has intensified monitoring, inspections, and field visits to various hospitals and health institutions.
On-site inspections have been carried out at federal, provincial, and private health facilities, including the Nepal Ayurveda Research and Training Center in Kirtipur, Bir Hospital, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS), Bharatpur Hospital, and Lumbini Eye Hospital.
In addition, Minister Dr. Gautam strengthened Nepal’s engagement in the global traditional medicine agenda by participating in the Second World Health Organization Global Summit on Traditional Medicine held in New Delhi, India.
According to the ministry, these initiatives undertaken over the past two months have laid a solid foundation for improvements in health sector policy, institutional structures, and service delivery. Minister Dr. Sudha Gautam has also reaffirmed her commitment to continuing result-oriented reforms in the days ahead.
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