Government prioritizes digital systems in health sector reform agenda
Kathmandu: The government has prioritized strengthening digital systems as part of six health-related points included in the 100 agendas for governance reforms approved by the Council of Ministers on Chaitra 13.
To ensure access to healthcare for poor, helpless and destitute patients, the government has decided to strictly implement the provision requiring government and private hospitals to allocate at least 10 percent of their total beds free of charge. The measure aims to prevent patients from being deprived of treatment due to financial constraints.
A ‘Free Health Portal’ will be developed and implemented nationwide within 30 days to enable real-time monitoring of free service availability, beneficiary details and service utilization across health institutions. Additionally, a digital, integrated and interconnected health information system will be established within three months to manage patient treatment history, referrals, follow-up services and clinical records. A clear ‘Refer Protocol’ will also be introduced to control unnecessary referrals to private hospitals.
To improve service quality in government hospitals, systems such as ‘Attendance Monitoring’, ‘Conduct Review’ and ‘Clinicality Audit’ will be made mandatory within a week to ensure the presence, behavior, cleanliness and adherence to basic service standards by health workers. A digital system to display the stock and price of medicines in hospital pharmacies is also planned to be launched within three months.
The government has also announced the introduction of ‘Sulabh Pharmacy’ in government hospitals and major health institutions nationwide to provide quality medicines at affordable prices. Essential medicines will be made available under generic names at the lowest cost, with supply management strengthened in coordination with the private sector. The program is expected to be implemented in phases within 100 days.
To address the shortage of well-equipped facilities for burn treatment at the provincial level, the process of establishing burn wards in most hospitals will begin within 30 days, alongside arrangements for subsidized treatment for burn patients.
The government has further prioritized ensuring the availability of air ambulances for emergency health services in hilly regions of far-western, central and eastern Nepal.
Public health expert Dr. Sharad Vanta stated that the effectiveness of these reforms will depend on their practical implementation and outcomes. He noted that although successive governments have pledged health sector reforms, citizens have yet to experience the expected benefits. He added that significant improvements could be achieved through effective implementation of the basic and emergency health services guaranteed by the constitution.
However, health experts have expressed concern that the health insurance program, considered a key priority area, has not been included in the reform agenda.