Govt seeks partnership with UNDP based on needs

Kathmandu, July 15

Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle said on Wednesday that the government seeks development cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) based on the country's evolving priorities and needs.

Addressing a programme in Kathmandu marking the 60^th anniversary of development cooperation between Nepal and the UNDP, he expressed the government's commitment to continuing the partnership.

"The contribution of the UNDP to poverty alleviation, reducing inequality, sustainable development, education, healthcare and many other sectors has been invaluable," FM Dr. Wagle said while hoping that the partnership will continue for the next 100 years.

He noted that long-term development cooperation under the umbrella of the United Nations should not be viewed solely in terms of the amount of financial investment, but rather as a broad framework for international collaboration and coordination.

The finance minister also thanked the UNDP for its contributions to environmental conservation, the strengthening of democracy, youth empowerment and digital development in Nepal. Recalling his own association with the organisation, he said he had spent an important period of his professional life working with the UNDP.

On the occasion, FM Dr. Wagle also launched '60 Years of Partnership', a photo book documenting the UNDP's work and development initiatives in Nepal over the past six decades.

Mental Health Support Programme launched

Meanwhile, the government and the UNDP launched a Joint UN Mental Health Support Programme (2025–2028), a three-year initiative to strengthen Nepal's mental health system and expand access to quality mental health and psychosocial support services across federal, provincial and local levels.

According to the UNDP, the programme is funded by Switzerland through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented jointly by the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office (RCO), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

"It will be implemented in Karnali, Lumbini and Madhes Provinces, working closely with government institutions to strengthen policies, improve services, build workforce capacity, and promote innovation in mental health care," read a statement from the UNDP.

The programme is also said to support key national-level activities, including reviewing and updating mental health strategies and policies, and establishing online training infrastructure and resource centres, and work with private sector partners for the provisions and delivery of mental health services.

The programme responds to an urgent and growing need for mental health services in Nepal. The NMICS 2024–25 (Nepal Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey) reveals that 9.3 per cent young people aged 15-24 years reported symptoms of depression or anxiety, with females twice as likely as males to experience mental distress.

Despite important policy advances, including the National Mental Health Strategy and Action Plan (2020–2025), services remain fragmented, concentrated in urban areas and constrained by a shortage of trained personnel.

The case for investing in mental health is both social and economic. Evidence from Prevention and Management of Mental Health Conditions in Nepal: The Case for Investment, 2025 authored by MoHFS, WHO and UNDP shows that investing in mental health could save nearly 17,000 lives and generate almost one million healthy life years in Nepal over the next two decades. Every rupee invested in mental health returns nearly six rupees in economic and health gains, a multiplier effect that makes the case for action compelling.

The Programme will reach approximately 54,000 individuals and support policy reform, capacity building and service innovation, and will contribute to the Nepal Health Sector Strategic Plan (2022–2030) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework.

It builds on Nepal's 100-Point Governance Reform Agenda, announced in March 2026, which includes explicit commitments to mental health and psychosocial well-being alongside broader health reforms, said the UNDP.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 16 July 2026.         

Quest Pharmaceuticals completes 25 years in medicine manufacturing

 Kathmandu, July 11

The government should reconsider continuing subsidies and protection for state-run industries and instead create an environment where private companies can compete freely, said President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Anjan Shrestha.

Speaking at an event organised to mark the 25th anniversary of Quest Pharmaceuticals, Shrestha said private companies were capable of supplying medicines and other products at lower costs than government-owned companies operating with subsidies.

“Let the private sector compete among itself. The private sector can provide products, including medicines, at a lower cost compared to the cost of government production and subsidies,” he said.

Shrestha argued that protected industries had remained financially weak for decades despite continued government support. “Why waste taxpayers’ money? The government should rethink this approach,” he added.

He also said excessive regulation of private businesses had created difficulties for investors. According to him, a delegation of the private sector recently told Prime Minister Balendra Shah that regulatory hurdles had discouraged investment.

“Prime Minister Shah has assured us that there will be regular interaction with the business community through a permanent mechanism, including with major umbrella organisations,” Shrestha said.

Quest Pharmaceuticals has completed 25 years in medicine manufacturing and is preparing to establish an exclusive innovation centre that will work in developing new products.

Speaking at the Golden Jubilee celebration organised on Friday evening in Kathmandu, Executive Director of the company Umesh Lal Shrestha maintained that research and innovation had become the company’s major priorities. The centre is under-construction in Bhaktapur and will contribute to substituting imports of high-end medicines.

He also stressed the need for clear government policies to promote industries, adjust medicine prices and encourage research.

Speaking at the programme, lawmaker Ganesh Parajuli said the fact that Nepali pharmaceutical products had secured around 50 per cent of the domestic market was encouraging.

He said the government should promote and facilitate domestic medicine manufacturers, noting that medicine prices had not increased for the past 11 years despite rising production costs.

“The government will always stand with investors and entrepreneurs. It has given priority to research and innovation,” Parajuli said.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 12 July 2026.         

Experts urge 55% tax hike on cigarette in upcoming budget

Lalitpur, May 24

Experts have demanded a raise in cigarette excise duty by 55 per cent in the upcoming budget of 2026/27, and recommended continuing with annual tax increase above inflation on all tobacco products.

This will increase the government revenue by Rs. 11-12 billion and is likely to be a catalyst in reducing tobacco use, according to estimates.

"Simplify the 5-tier cigarette tax structure and gradually move toward a uniform specific excise tax system," they said while speaking at a policy dialogue on 'Rationalising tobacco, alcohol and sugary drink taxes' organised by Nepal Development Research Institute (NDRI) in Lalitpur on Sunday.

The NDRI said that the country should aim for strong reduction in tobacco use with ambitious tax rates.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended raising tobacco excise duties up to 70 per cent of the retail price. But Nepal is lagging much behind this target.

The tobacco tax activists also suggested to introduce a licensing system for tobacco retailers and distributors through local governments. Currently, any retailer, individual or café can sell tobacco products while licensing is implemented in case of alcohol distributors and retailers.

Dr. Jaya Kumar Gurung, Coordinator of Tobacco Control Programme at the NDRI, said that the government, in the past three years, has raised tax on tobacco and alcoholic products by 2-5 per cent making negligible increase in the overall retail price. This rate is also way below the average annual inflation rate which generally hovers above 5 per cent.

It means, tobacco and alcoholic products are actually becoming cheaper.

Demanding for a system to automatically adjust the excise duty on alcoholic products in line with the Consumer Price Index, the NDRI said, "Currently, due to tax rate adjustments made through the annual budget in Nepal, excise duty rates are failing to keep pace with the rate of inflation. As a result, it appears that alcoholic products are becoming even more accessible and affordable over time."

 

Positive impact on revenue

In FY 2021/22, the government increased the excise duty on tobacco products by 25 per cent which resulted in a rise of Rs. 4.1 billion in government revenue. The following year, excise duty went up by another 17 per cent.

Statistics have shown a positive impact of alcohol on revenue – in the last decade the sector saw about three-time growth in such revenue. Currently, Nepal is implementing the lowest tax (41 per cent) on cigarettes while it is 58 per cent in India, 61 per cent in Pakistan, 73 per cent in Bangladesh and 68 per cent in Sri Lanka.

A raise of 10 per cent in retail price of alcoholic products will send down its consumption by 5-8 per cent. For example, alcohol's consumption had decreased by 64 per cent in Sri Lanka after the country increased tax rate by 20 per cent in 2023. However, it should also be noted that the country was trying to come out from a disastrous economic recession then.

The NDRI recommended that adopting the WHO's '3 by 5' initiative, tax on alcoholic products should be increased by at least a significant percentage. Token tax increases, such as the current 2 per cent, cannot bring about any significant reduction in alcohol consumption, instead, the state is losing out on the opportunity to collect large amounts of potential revenue.

Likewise, a demand was also made to expand the tax base to carbonated, non-carbonated drink, energy drink, sweet tea/coffee and flavoured milk and syrups.

Tax expert Dr. Rup Khadka suggested an administrative setup to effectively implement the tax rise while consumption discouragement campaigns should also be carried out at the same time.

Economist Professor Shiva Raj Adhikari said that the high tax on tobacco and alcoholic drinks not only reduces the consumption but also increases savings of the family, and they need to spend less on such products and health treatment.

"The tax hike decreases consumption of tobacco and alcohol especially in youth and low-income group," he said.

According to recent statistics presented by the NDRI, Nepal has 34 per cent tobacco use prevalence in above 15 years age. This means 6.7 million Nepalis consume tobacco. It kills 39,200 lives each year.

 

Sin-tax to health insurance

Speaking at the programme, former health minister Dr. Toshima Karki said that the government is in discussion if the revenue raised from 'sin-tax' could be mobilised in health insurance programmes.

Lawmakers from various political parties said that the government should implement step-wise taxation, via the budget of FY 2026/27, on tobacco and alcohol to make it 75 per cent in the next few years. Children should be strictly prohibited from buying and consuming such harmful products, they said while adding, "Government's focus should be public health and greater social benefit, not the revenue."

According to them, it is high time to raise tax on tobacco, sugar and alcoholic products. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 25 May 2026.  

NCC to organise conclave on alternative medicine

Kathmandu, May 13

The Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) is set to organise the Nepal edition of the International Ayush Conclave 4.0 on June  12-14 this year in Kathmandu .

The NCC is organising the event in with collaboration with Council for Integrative Vaidya Innovation and Collaboration (CIVIC) of India.

Dr. M. M. Quraishi, a representative of the organisation said that the event will feature scientific sessions, research-based presentation and exchange of international knowledge.

According to him, individuals and institutions contributing to the Ayush sector (traditional and alternative healthcare system) will be honored with various awards.

Additionally, an attempt will be made to register a record in the Legends World Record by conducting the largest clinical diagnosis session by Ayush practitioners on a single platform.

The NCC said that the conclave will bring together various Ayush systems, including Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy on a single platform. Participants will also receive insights into the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and modern technologies in healthcare practices.

The event is being organised with the objective of promoting the Ayush sector at the international level.

The main aim of the conclave is to provide global recognition to Ayush systems and to familiarise practitioners with future-oriented technologies.

According to Rastrabhushan Chakubji, Chairman of the Trade Fair Committee of the NCC, the conclave is expected to witness participation of more than 200 delegates from over 10 countries, including more than 20 states of India.

Same type of Ayush conclave has been successfully conducted in Agra, Goa, and Jaipur in tje past.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 14 May 2026.

MoFA organises nature walk

Kathmandu, Apr. 18

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) organised an ‘Arogya Walk’ along the Hattiban–Champadevi trail in Dakshinkali Municipality on Saturday.

The programme was organised on the occasion of the first International Wellness Day, the Ministry informed in a statement.  

Ambassadors based in Kathmandu, other members of the diplomatic community, and senior government officials participated in the walk to express a shared commitment to wellness and a healthy lifestyle.

Welcoming the participants to the event, Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai highlighted the government’s policy to develop Nepal as a premier global wellness tourism destination, following the United Nations’ decision, as proposed by Nepal, to observe 15 April each year as International Wellness Day.

On the occasion, life science instructor Pratik Sharma demonstrated various pranayama and meditation.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 19 April 2026.       

Tranquility Spa launches its services at Siddartha Vilasa

Kathmandu, Mar. 3

Tranquility Spa has officially launched its services at Siddhartha Vilasa in Bhairahawa.

The new branch offers various services including hydrothermal therapy, salon services, swimming, gym facilities, traditional Nepali massage treatments, and comprehensive wellness services.

The company runs spa at The Soaltee Kathmandu, Radisson Hotel, Royal Tulip Kathmandu, Royal Tulip Chitwan, and Mountain Glory Pokhara. Tranquility Spa has now established its presence in Lumbini Province as well.

Furthermore, its branch operating in Malaysia has also been successfully delivering excellent services and winning the hearts of customers there, the company said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Peace and wellness are like two sides of the same coin. Therefore, this state-of-art spa and wellness centre established in Bhairahawa aims to provide both domestic and international tourists with mental peace and physical relaxation through quality services," read the statement.

Chairperson of the company Bhuwan Phaiju said, “Since our establishment, we have been promoting spa and wellness culture in Nepal. Under this mission, we are extremely excited to operate a fully equipped branch at Siddhartha Vilasa, Bhairahawa.”

Executive Director Suresh Puri stated that this expansion outside Kathmandu aligns with the organization’s long-term vision of extending quality wellness services.

The company operates more than 18 branches across Nepal and has provided employment to more than 250 youths. At present, the new Bhairahawa branch alone employs 40 staff members, and the company plans to gradually increase this number.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 4 March 2026.      

Nabil Bank hosts burn treatment camp in Dhangadhi

Kathmandu, Feb. 28

Nabil Bank Limited has organised a three-day ‘Free Burn Treatment Camp’ at the Seti Provincial Hospital (SPH) in Dhangadhi, Kailali. According to the bank, a total of 65 burn patients received free treatment through the camp, held last week.

During the camp, senior doctors performed surgeries on 20 patients at the SPH, while 18 patients with more complex conditions were referred to Sushma Koirala Memorial Hospital (SKMH) in Sankhu, Kathmandu.

Nabil Bank, SKMH and SPH jointly organised the camp. Patients who had long been awaiting proper medical care and surgery, particularly from underprivileged and economically disadvantaged backgrounds, received free treatment at the camp, the bank informed in a statement.

Durga Pandey, one of the attendees, said her 5-year-old daughter received good service through the camp. The child had suffered complications in her neck following an oil burn injury two years ago.

A team of specialist doctors led by Prof. Dr. Ishwar Lohani of SKMH provided services at the camp. Highlighting the significant problem of burn incidents in Nepal, Dr. Lohani said that wounds often worsen due to delays in receiving timely treatment and reliance on traditional healers. He said the camp had helped raise awareness about proper treatment and that such programmes would further benefit disadvantaged communities in the future.

Bharat Luhar, 42, whose hands were burned while warming himself by a fire, has been referred to Kathmandu for further treatment.

A total of 65 individuals—35 men and 30 women—participated in the camp organised by Nabil Bank as part of its corporate social responsibility initiative. CEO Manoj Kumar Gyawali said that many burn victims in Nepal still lack access to proper treatment, and that in its first phase, the bank had targeted burn victims in remote areas of Sudurpashchim Province.

He also informed that similar camps would be organised in other provinces in the coming days.

Dr. Hemraj Pandey, Medical Superintendent of the SPH, said many people remain without proper treatment and that such burn camps provide essential care and relief to the public.

Alongside the burn camp, a basic burn treatment training programme was also conducted at the SPH. Around 50 staff – including doctors, nurses, administrative heads and surgeons - received training from Dr. Raju Bhandari, Deputy Medical Director of SKMH. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 1 March 2026.     

Nabil Bank, SKMH conduct free burn treatment camp at Seti Hospital

Kathmandu, Feb. 24 

Nabil Bank, in collaboration with Sushma Koirala Memorial Hospital (SKMH) and Seti Provincial Hospital (SPH), is organising Free Burn Treatment Camp at the SPH in Dhangadhi.

The bank informed in a statement that burn victims will benefit from the camp, which will run from 24 to 26 February.

Nabil Bank is organising the camp as part of its corporate social responsibility programme. The bank said it plans to expand such camps to other provinces, starting from Dhangadhi in partnership with the SKMH. It expects more than 120 beneficiaries in the first phase.

According to the bank, economically disadvantaged and underprivileged burn survivors suffering from long-term complications will receive consultations, treatment, and surgical services at the camp. The bank is coordinating with FEKT Nepal under Kirtipur Hospital and SKMH to conduct the programme.

"Patients with burn-related contractures, hair loss, fused fingers or toes, deformities caused by explosions, and inward-turned feet will receive free treatment," read the statement. Patients with complex conditions will be referred for free treatment at SKMH in Sankhu, Kathmandu.

The bank also said that the initiative aims to improve the lives of burn survivors. Government data show around 56,000 burn incidents occur annually in Nepal, with an average of 2,100 deaths while many survivors face long-term disability. Limited access to specialised burn treatment centres outside Kathmandu has prevented timely and affordable care, particularly for low-income patients.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 25 February 2026.     

Patan Hospital becomes first fully digital govt hospital

Kathmandu, Feb. 6

In a milestone move, the Patan Hospital has digitalised all of its services including emergency, outpatient department and inpatient department.

The hospital located in Lagankhel of Lalitpur has emerged as the country’s first state-run multi-speciality hospital to fully digitise its services, marking a major transformation in public healthcare delivery.

Minister for Health and Population Dr. Sudha Sharma Gautam launched the digital services at the 18^th anniversary programme of the Patan Academy of Health Sciences (PAHS) organised at the hospital in Lalitpur on Friday.

Developed over a decade through sustained effort and close collaboration with medical professionals, the hospital’s integrated digital system streamlines everything from administration to clinical treatment into a single platform.

With the launch of digital services, patients' records maintained in the past seven decades could be accessed via mobile devices or computers. The system is developed and maintained by D-Code, a Nepali software developer company.

"One of the most notable changes is the introduction of mobile-based access to prescriptions and medical reports. After consultation, patients can now view prescriptions, medication details, and test results directly through their online accounts or mobile applications, eliminating the need to carry physical files," Registrar of the PAHS Prof. Dr. Paras Kumar Acharya said at the programme.

The hospital has also implemented an online payment system, allowing patients to settle bills using QR codes and cards. This removes the need to queue at cash counters and enables patients to proceed directly to pharmacies or diagnostic services after consulting doctors.

Another feature allows patients to download X-ray, CT scan, and MRI reports remotely through a digital portal. This reduces congestion in radiology department and offers greater convenience—an innovation considered groundbreaking among Nepal’s public hospitals, the hospital informed.

The system further integrates major government service platforms, including Health Insurance, the Social Security Fund (SSF), supports schemes for underprivileged citizens and the Inland Revenue Department’s API (Application Programming Interface).

"This integration enables eligible patients to access government benefits without additional paperwork or administrative delays," said the developer.

D-Code said that the software used in the PAHS is free and open-source platform as per the policy of the government.

The hospital has made both the software and its source code publicly available, allowing other public and private hospitals to adopt, customise, and implement the system at no cost.

“This is not just software; it reflects 10 years of institutional experience and operational learning. Other hospitals no longer need to invest millions in research—they can adopt our model and digitise their services immediately," said a member of the development team.

Designed to manage the daily load of more than 2,000 OPD visits and over 600 admitted patients, the system is now expanding towards artificial intelligence (AI) integration. The hospital has begun incorporating AI tools to enhance disease diagnosis, workflow efficiency, and medical data research.

Patan Hospital is also preparing to launch its own mobile application, which will further improve patient access to healthcare services.

Dr. Acharya informed that the digitalisation of the health services at the PAHS was conceptualised one and a half decades ago in 2011. He also appealed to all public and private health institutions in Nepal to use the open-source software and save a large amount of budget and effort to create another one.

Addressing the anniversary programme, Minister Dr. Gautam appreciated the quality human resources production and service delivery of the PAHS.

She said that while basic health services are guaranteed by the constitution and its responsibilities are lied at the local governments, they are yet to realise this responsibility and act accordingly.

"It is unfortunate that insurance payment is due for the last three years at the Patan Hospital. I request all the governments to make their contributions to the insurance fund in order to make the programme a success," said the Minister.

The hospital is waiting to receive Rs. 311.24 million in insurance dues from the government. Other dues include Rs. 56.88 million for services to the poor people.

Meanwhile, the PAHS has earned Rs. 3.08 billion in the last Fiscal Year 2024/25 and made a profit of Rs. 163.61 million.

The hospital is set to launch bone marrow transplant service from this year. A recently prepared master plan of the hospital also includes launching cardio-thoracic surgery, radiation therapy and transplant services in the near future. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 7 February 2026.  

DJPL to invest Rs. 4.7 billion in Chitwan

Kathmandu, Feb. 4

Deurali-Janta Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd. is set to diversify its production and increase its capacity with a new manufacturing plant in Chitwan.

“The new international standard production plant will be installed for Rs 4.75 billion, with the aim of import substitution, export readiness, technology transfer and creating employment,” Hari Bhakta Sharma, Founder and Executive Director of the company, said at a  press meet organised to mark the 35^th year of the company, on Tuesday.

The project would be developed within two years.

Sharma and his team have seen a huge potential in the Nepali pharmaceutical industry in production, export and competitive capacity.

However, he said that the country still lacks an industry-friendly policy. The government should support the entrepreneurs in acquiring land, the business registration and licensing process, and technology transfer.

According to him, the Department of Drugs has a provision for obtaining a separate license for each medicine production, which creates additional hassles in the production and marketing of the products.

Deurali-Janta aims to conduct a business worth around Rs. 2.6 billion this year.

“Deurali–Janata Pharmaceuticals has been a leader in Nepal’s pharmaceutical industry for the past 35 years. The company imports advanced technology to produce essential medicines locally, and it has firmly established itself as a pioneer in Nepal’s pharmaceutical sector,” said Ayush Bhakta Poudel, Director of the company.

According to him, with a focus on reducing reliance on imported medicines, the company’s goal has always been to make the country self-sufficient in pharmaceutical production. It has successfully developed and produced hundreds of medicines in Nepal, and the company’s success story is a testament to its commitment and growth in the pharmaceutical industry.

Deurali-Janta is producing 296 types of essential life-saving medicines, including capsules, tablets, liquids, ointments, dry powders, and other forms of medicinewith the application of cutting-edge technologies.

The products are rigorously researched, produced, and quality-tested using modern technologies and equipment, meeting international standards, said Poudel. The company has employed 675 individuals. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 5 February 2026.  

India to build two health posts in Indrawati

Kathmandu, Dec. 16

India is supporting Indrawati Rural Municipality with Rs. 40 million to build two health post buildings.

Jhamka Nath Nepal, Chairman of Indrawati Rural Municipality and Shri Narayan Singh, First Secretary, Embassy of India in Kathmandu jointly laid the foundation stones for the construction of two Health Post Buildings at Ward No.3 and Ward No.6 of Indrawati Rural Municipality, Sindhupalchowk District, on Tuesday.

According to the Embassy, these Health Posts will have two-storeyed buildings with suitable facilities. These projects have been taken up as High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs), and will be implemented through the Indrawati Rural Municipality. 

Chairman of the local body and other stakeholders appreciated the development support being extended by India. They expressed confidence that the new health infrastructure created would help enhance accessibility to health services in the region, read the embassy issued by the Embassy. 

"The implementation of HICDPs reflects the continued support of India in bolstering the efforts of Nepal in achieving growth and development, apart from augmenting infrastructure in priority sectors," it said. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 17 December 2025.

Minister Paudel highlights digital innovation for better health care access

Kathmandu, July 26

Minister for Health and Population Pradip Paudel has emphasised that digital innovation is crucial for expanding access to health care, particularly for those who are often left behind.

Addressing a session at the Boao Forum for Asia Global Health Forum 2025, he highlighted Nepal’s commitment to digital health through the National Digital Health Strategy. He called for stronger international collaboration in knowledge-sharing and capacity building.

Minister Paudel participated in the forum held in Beijing from 24–25 July, under the theme ‘New future of health industry: Driven by innovation’, the Embassy of Nepal in Beijing informed in a statement on Saturday.

In his address to the session, he emphasised the transformative power of modern technology in reducing healthcare costs, improving diagnostic accuracy, enhancing health system management, and risk mapping.

Noting the changing disease patterns linked to climate change, he urged the global community to prioritise climate-induced health risks.

On the sidelines, Minister Paudel met Shen Hongbin, Director of China’s NDCPA, where they discussed bilateral cooperation, including support for vector-borne disease research in Hetauda and a neuro treatment centre in government hospitals. Both sides agreed to deepen health collaborations.

The Minister also met the Nepali community in Beijing and encouraged them to contribute to Nepal with their knowledge and skills. He was accompanied by the Ambassador of Nepal to China, Dr. Krishna Prasad Oli.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 27 July 2025.

Beurer launches health devices in Nepal

Kathmandu, July 11

German health and wellness company Beurer GmbH has officially entered the Nepali market with a launch of range of home healthcare devices to consumers across the country.

Beurer’s initial product line in Nepal includes digital blood pressure monitors, respiratory care nebulisers, blood sugar glucometers, and digital thermometers. "These devices, known for their precision German engineering, ease of use, and clinical accuracy, cater to both home users and healthcare professionals seeking dependable diagnostic tools," the company said in a statement.

Established in 1919 and headquartered in Ulm, Germany, Beurer is a global leader in personal health, wellness, and medical technology. The company operates in over 140 countries.

Speaking at the product launch programme, Rohit Saini, Country Manager of Beurer India, said that the company has always been committed to enhancing lives through innovative and reliable health technology. He added that the company is keen to support Nepal’s growing focus on preventive healthcare.

Likewise, Rahul Agrawal, Executive Director of Nepal Overseas Marketing Co., the authorised distributor of Beurer in Nepal, noted that the introduction of Beurer products comes at an ideal time, as more Nepali families are adopting home-based health monitoring practices.

The company said that it has a strong after-sales service and product availability across the country through Nepal Overseas Marketing Co.’s extensive distribution network. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 12 July 2025.   

Japanese embassy hands over equipment to Bayalpata Hospital

Kathmandu, June 25

The Japanese Embassy in Kathmandu handed over medical equipment to Bayalpata Hospital Sanfebagar Municipality of Achham district on Tuesday.

Charge d’Affairs and Interim of the Embassy, Tamura Takahiro, was present on the occasion.

The medical equipment, intended for trauma care and orthopaedic surgery, was funded through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) by the Government of Japan. A grant of USD 66,263 (approximately Rs. 8.9 million) was provided for this purpose, the Japanese Embassy informed in a statement.

Bayalpata Hospital is a key medical institution, serving Achham, Bajura, and Doti districts in Sudurpaschim Province, as well as Kalikot and Dailekh districts in Karnali province. The NGO Nyaya Health Nepal operates it in partnership with the support from provincial and local governments.

Tamura hoped this support will enhance the medical environment, improve access to quality healthcare in rural areas of Nepal, and foster stronger ties between Japan and Nepal.

The GGP scheme was established to support socio-economic development through projects directly benefiting people at the grassroots level. Since its inception in 1991, over 200 GGP projects have been implemented in Nepal.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 26 June 2025. 

Nepalis unable to have number of children they desire: UNFPA

 Kathmandu, June 18

Millions of people around the world, including in Nepal, are unable to have the number of children they desire - not due to a lack of interest in parenthood, but because of a growing web of economic and social barriers, the State of World Population (SWP) report by the UNFPA concluded.

The report revealed that one in five people globally expect not to have the number of children they want. The reasons are high living costs, insecure jobs, unaffordable housing and childcare, lack of a supportive partner, limited access to reproductive health care, and broader concerns about global crises like climate change and conflict.

‘The Real Fertility Crisis: The Pursuit of Reproductive Agency in a Changing World,’ launched on Tuesday draws academic research and data from a global UNFPA–YouGov survey covering 14 countries including nations with both high and low fertility rates.

In Nepal, the story mirrors global trends, the UNFPA informed in a statement.

Despite a steady preference for two or more children, people are having fewer children than they desire, especially in more urbanised provinces such as Bagmati and Gandaki. “The average fertility rate in Nepal has declined to two children per woman, a trend that cuts across all social groups-urban and rural, educated and non-educated, high-income and low-income,” read the statement.

Across provinces, the mismatch between desired and actual family size is increasingly evident. This gap is particularly pronounced in areas where employment insecurity, spousal separation due to labour migration, lack of childcare, and housing costs are making parenthood a difficult choice.

“Globally, vast numbers of people are unable to create the families they want,” said Won Young Hong, UNFPA Representative in Nepal.

According to him, in Nepal, some people are prevented from parenthood while others are forced into it. This is not about overpopulation or declining fertility—it is about expanding choices in an enabling environment for young men and women to have the family they envision.

“Paid family leave, affordable reproductive health care, childcare, and supportive partners are not luxuries. They are essential,” said Won.

The report concluded that more than 50 per cent of respondents cited economic issues. including cost of living, housing, and childcare, as barriers to parenthood.

In Nepal, a combination of urbanisation, job insecurity, rising costs, and lack of flexible work policies makes it difficult for young couples to envision a secure future with children.

About 31 per cent of people globally do not get to have their desired number of children, while 12 per cent report having more than desired.

In Nepal, spousal separation due to labour migration and gendered norms around caregiving further complicate fertility choices. “Forty-three per cent of people globally over 50 said they did not achieve their desired family size, which is a striking measure of unmet reproductive goals,” read the report.

In provinces like Bagmati, data show lower-than-desired fertility; in others, such as Madhes, people often report having more children than they had planned—both indicators of limited reproductive agency.

The report identifies gender inequality as a major cross-cutting issue that undermines people’s ability to form the families they want. It’s happening because care responsibilities continue to fall disproportionately on women, and Nepali fathers often face stigma around taking on caregiving roles, while women risk career setbacks when they become mothers.

Hanaa Singer-Hamdy, UN Resident Coordinator to Nepal, said, “We must shift from anxiety about fertility rates to empowering individual agency. People need economic security, rights-based policies, and freedom of choice, not coercive measures.”

Likewise, Professor Dr. R.P. Bichha, Member of National Planning Commission, said that the situation demands policy frameworks guided by population dynamics. Quality of life and productivity of our young generation must be at the core, not just population numbers.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 19 June 2025. 

Nepal grapples with severe air pollution: Report

Kathmandu, June 17

Air pollution has emerged as the leading cause of death and disability in Nepal.
It has become a crisis that is significantly shortening the lives of its citizens and inflicting substantial economic damage, stated a World Bank Report 'Towards clean air in Nepal: Benefits, pollution sources, and solutions' released in Kathmandu on Tuesday.

The report revealed alarming statistics, indicating that the average Nepali's life expectancy is reduced by 3.4 years due to polluted air, leading to approximately 26,000 premature deaths annually.

The pervasive nature of air pollution surpasses other critical health risks such as malnutrition and tobacco use, making it the country's foremost environmental and public health challenge.

According to the report, the Kathmandu Valley and Tarai region are the major air pollution hotspots in the country, and these areas have shown no significant improvement in air quality over the past decade.

"The primary pollutant of concern is Particulate Matter (PM2.5​), microscopic particles smaller than 2.5 microns, which can deeply penetrate the lungs and other vital organs, posing a severe threat to human health," read the report.

Current PM2.5​ concentrations in these regions far exceed the World Health Organisation's (WHO) ultimate annual mean target of 5 μg/m3, as well as its initial interim goal of 35 μg/m3.

The economic repercussions are equally staggering, with the cost of poor air quality estimated to exceed 6 per cent of Nepal's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) each year. This economic toll is a result of reduced labour productivity due to increased health-related absences and impaired cognitive function, as well as significant negative impacts on the tourism and aviation sectors, said the report.

If immediate and decisive action are taken, air pollution would further intensify and reach 52 μg/m3 in the Kathmandu Valley and 42 μg/m3 in Tarai by 2035, causing tens of thousands of additional premature deaths, particularly among children and the elderly and further straining the healthcare system, thus, hindering economic growth.

 

Transboundary pollution

The report noted that major sources of pollution in the Kathmandu Valley are industrial production, cooking, and mobility. Industrial fuel combustion, primarily from boiler usage, is expected to rise significantly.

Likewise, seasonal forest fires, prevalent from February to May, also contribute substantially, ranking as the fourth largest local source of annual average air pollution exposure.

A significant portion of Nepal's air pollution originates from outside its borders. Transboundary air pollution has a considerable impact on air quality in both the Kathmandu Valley and, more acutely, the Tarai region.

Almost a quarter of the pollution in the Kathmandu Valley is from outside the Valley, with more than half of that originating from other countries. The situation is even more critical in the Tarai, where two-thirds of PM2.5​ exposure crosses international borders, largely due to its proximity to the Indo-Gangetic Plain Himalayan Foothills (IGP-HF) area, a region known for high agricultural and industrial emissions.

 

35 by 35

According to the report, the Government of Nepal has expressed a strong commitment to improving air quality, setting an ambitious target to achieve an annual average PM2.5​ concentration of 35 μg/m3 by 2035.

This '35 by 35' aspirational goal aligns with the WHO interim target 1 for PM2.5​ and has been endorsed by other countries in the IGP-HF region, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Pakistan.

The report identifies three priority measures crucial for achieving this target in the Kathmandu Valley: cleaner production technology, cleaner cooking, and cleaner Heavy-Duty Vehicles (HDVs). These measures are not only among the most cost-effective but also offer the highest pollution abatement potential, read the report.

The report also noted that while these measures are vital for the Tarai, they are insufficient on their own due to the significant transboundary pollution. Achieving the '35 by 35' target in the Tarai necessitates collaborative action with neighbouring countries.

It advised that Tarai should focus on local priority actions while engaging in regional coordination efforts to strengthen common pollution control measures across the IGP-HF region.

According to the report, to enable air quality management (AQM), Nepal should enhance air quality monitoring and communication, strengthen governance and enforcement, establish supportive economic framework to redirect revenue from environmental tax to clean transitions, provide incentives to industries in cleaner technologies, and ensure adequate infrastructure for cleaner technologies.

Speaking at the report launch programme, Minister for Forests and Environment Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri, said that clean air and economic growth are not in conflict. In fact, the cost of inaction on pollution is far greater than the cost of taking bold steps today.

According to him, from setting stricter industrial emission standards to promoting electric transport, the government is committed to cleaning Nepal’s air.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 18 June 2025. 

CIT, Rurukshetra agree to implement pension scheme for CHV

Kathmandu, June 15

The Citizens Investment Trust (CIT) and Rurukshetra Rural Municipality in Gulmi district have entered an agreement to implement the Citizen Pension Scheme for Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs).

The initiative aims to provide social security to women working at the grassroots level in public health, the CIT informed in a statement on Sunday.

The agreement was formally signed by CIT Executive Director Parbat Kumar Karki and Rurukshetra's Chairperson Yadu Gyawali.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Karki assured that contributions made under the scheme would remain secure and that eligible participants would receive pension benefits upon retirement. He also urged self-employed individuals and other locals to join the scheme to secure their financial future.

Likewise, Gyawali welcomed the initiative and expressed confidence in active participation from the community. “This scheme will serve as a significant milestone in recognising the invaluable service of our health volunteers and ensuring their long-term welfare,” he said.

As per the agreement, a monthly contribution of Rs. 830 per health volunteer will be deposited into the CIT from the municipality-operated Volunteer Welfare Fund. The fund is managed under the FCHV Welfare Fund of the rural municipality.

Withdrawals, loans, or disbursements from the individual accounts under this scheme will be permitted only on the recommendation of the municipality. Upon reaching the age of 60, participants will be eligible to receive either a lump-sum amount or a regular pension, in line with the Pension Scheme Operational Procedure, 2076 BS.

Moreover, volunteers who have completed five years under the scheme will be eligible to take a loan of up to 80 per cent of their accumulated savings, again based on the municipality’s recommendation.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 16 June 2025. 

Cabinet approves positions at HIB, hospitals

Kathmandu, May 3

The Council of Ministers has approved a proposal by Health and Population Minister Pradeep Paudel to add temporary positions to address the problem caused by a shortage of manpower in the assessment of claim payments by the Health Insurance Board (HIB).

At its meeting last Wednesday, the Cabinet decided to add 402 personnel to the Board. Minister Paudel had proposed the approval of temporary positions for 56 officers and 346 assistant-level and unclassified staff.

Due to a lack of manpower, the Board has only been able to complete the assessment of claims up to mid-July last year. The Board’s Executive Director, Dr. Raghuraj Kafle, expressed confidence that the additional temporary personnel would help complete the evaluation of the remaining claims within the current fiscal year.

According to the Cabinet's decision, temporary positions have also been approved for other institutions: 129 for Sushil Koirala Prakhar Cancer Hospital in Khajura, 141 for Geta Hospital in Dhangadhi, and 313 for Dadeldhura Hospital.

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Health and Population, Dr. Prakash Budhathoki, said that this move is expected to ease operational difficulties faced by these hospitals. “Until the work on organisational and management structures is completed, it is believed that this will facilitate the operation of services at the Board and the hospitals,” he said.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 4 May 2025.

Health Insurance Scheme faces teething troubles

Efforts being made to integrate all state-funded health programmes

 

Kathmandu, Apr. 26

Even after a decade since the micro-health insurance facility was launched in Nepal with the aim to establish universal access for citizens to quality health services, the programme is facing multi-pronged challenges including the management of funds, shortage of human resources, and inability to review the increasing claims submitted by the service providers.

The programme was launched on a trial a decade ago and was formally implemented after two years following the enactment of the Health Insurance Act, 2017.

Due to the acute shortage of funds, payment liability has piled up at the Health Insurance Board (HIB). It has not been able to reimburse the amount claimed by the service providers (hospitals and health centres) since the beginning of the current Fiscal Year 2024/25.

The HIB is clearing the dues from the last FY 2023/24 this year. It has about Rs. 17.5 billion outstanding. "Estimating the additional claims in the remaining period of the current fiscal year, the total amount remaining for payment by the end of this fiscal year is expected to be Rs. 24 billion. There is a challenge in developing the capacity to make timely payments," the HIB said in a white paper about its status published a month ago.

Meanwhile, the amount of claims submitted to the board goes as up as 40,000 a day while the team to review those claims is struggling with limited human resources and technology.

"The HIB has a team of about 25 medical experts including doctors, nurses and lab technicians to review the claims filed by 485 health institutions across the country. Without additional human resources, this cannot be resolved," said Bikesh Malla, Information Officer of the Board.

With the current setup, the HIB can review maximum 7,000 cases a day. As a result, the claim verification of the last FY 2023/24 is still pending. The White Paper mentions that the number of claims received by the board and not reviewed is about 9 million by the end of February. The paper also maintains that due to insufficient skilled manpower in claim review and the inherently weak method and process adopted, timely verification of claims has not been possible.

It has left the Board, service providers, and the insured all disadvantaged.

 

 

 

Deficit budget, workforce

The HIB is struggling with the limited sources of income. The fund earns about Rs. 3 billion to Rs. 3.5 billion from the premium charges and receives approximately Rs. 7.5 billion from the budget in a year. For the last three fiscal years, the government has disbursed the same amount of money to the Board.

According to Malla, the HIB has approved a budget of Rs. 26.59 billion for this year but it is likely to receive one third of that amount. Through the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), it has asked for the funds of Rs. 17.5 billion from the Ministry of Finance (MoF).

But since the country is also struggling with fund management, the MoF had pledged to provide additional Rs. 3 billion on top of the Rs. 7.5 billion announced through the annual budget. If the sum of the premium is also added to this fund, total size of the fund at the HIB reaches Rs. 14 billion. Even then, there will be a shortfall of Rs. 10 billion.

Meanwhile, the Board has been facing growing operation cost issue including Rs. 23.4 million in house rent and millions of rupees for employees' salaries.

"The MoHP has directed the Board to reduce the number of consultants, use government buildings instead of renting out space for offices and maintain full transparency," Spokesperson of the MoHP, Dr. Prakash Budhathoki, said to The Rising Nepal.

According to him, to overcome the challenges posed by the shortage of workforce, the Ministry has given a positive nod to hire 25 experts to review the pending claims.

Likewise, inability to make the operations fully automated has its toll on the board, service providers and service seekers.

Due to the inability to use technology that can automatically reject treatments outside the standards set by the Board and provide information on false claims, there is a risk of some service providers entering false claims and even receiving payments, said the Board.

To address this malady, the HIB has accorded priority to implementation of information technology. New bylaws are formulated and submitted to the Cabinet with a provision to audit the prescriptions of the doctors to discourage the false claims, informed Dr. Budhathoki.

 

Hassles to patients

Hospitals discriminate the patients that come to obtain the health facility under the insurance programme. Service seekers have complained that they have to wait for a long time to obtain the services and have to face hassles at the hospitals.

The White Paper of the HIB has accepted the fact that there have been widespread complaints that the health service offered by service providers has not been effective. "Problems such as having to receive service only at the designated first service point, unavailability of doctors at the first service point, not being able to get tests done on time, and unavailability of medicines are recurring," read the document.

Patients reaching Bir Hopspital, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Chitwan Medical College and other institutions have to spend more time to get their health checked or receive medicine due to additional bureaucratic hassles.

Malla of the Board said that due to limited capacity of the hospital, small number of equipment and shortage of human resources have been the causes behind such challenges that are causing dissatisfaction on the part of patients.

As a result, the programme has been witnessing a high dropout rate. In the current FY 2024/25, the dropout rate stands at 54 per cent. Although it was lower than 64 per cent two years ago, this is significant and needs a serious attention, experts say.

A Health Ministry official said that the Board has failed to identify the reasons behind this high dropout rate and address it in time.

Likewise, the Board has not been able to train the service provider health institutions with which it has agreements and make them proficient in providing services. The capacity to monitor and regulate the services provided by service providers has not been developed. The Board has faced difficulties in controlling quality due to the inability to pay service providers on time, according to the White Paper.

The Board also doesn't have monitoring and evaluation guidelines while checklists and standards need to be updated. It said that while the practice of joint monitoring has not taken place so far, multiple suggestions and conclusions received from monitoring have also not been implemented.

The NIB, in collaboration with the MoHP, plans to bring the first service points into operation in all local levels of the country, enhance their capacity and streamline the referral system.

 

Strategy to manage funds

The MoHP and NIB have begun work on addressing the challenges in the fund management. Health Minister Pradip Paudel has been stressing on strengthening the Board and expanding the programme so that it could cover every citizen of the country.

He even went further to increase the health coverage of up to Rs. 500,000 from the current purse of Rs. 100,000 per family. Such amount for senior citizens and chronically ill people is Rs. 200,000. A family can obtain the facility with premium of Rs. 3,500 while senior citizens above 70 years of age need not pay any premium.

Minister Paudel has already decided to activate the Health Insurance Fund and deposit 1 per cent of the total income of the federal hospital into it. The Finance Ministry has already given a positive nod to his Minister-level decision.

The Health Ministry is of the view that more reforms would be made as per the suggestions of the Task Force on Health Insurance Reform. It has also been saying that all the government implemented health and treatment support programmes should be integrated with the Fund while government employees should contribute 1 per cent from their salary and an equivalent amount should be contributed by the government to the fund.

While accepting the report of the Task Force last month, Minister Paudel said that if all the health-related programmes of all levels of the governments were consolidated, about Rs. 30 billion could be collected into the Fund. Many local governments have been executing free or subsidised health insurance programmes.

Dr. Budhathoki of the Health Ministry said that approximately Rs. 15 billion could be consolidated into the Fund if the free or subsidised health programme for deprived people, senior citizens, people with disability and pregnant or lactating mothers could be brought under the HIB.

However, it is likely to take a couple of years to complete this task.

Similarly, the Health Ministry also wants to bring the health insurance provided by the Social Security Fund to the registered employees under the HIB. But the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security is reluctant to do so.

 

A successful programme

Given the achievements the health insurance programme made in the last eight years, it can be termed as 'successful' minus the shortage of funds. The programme is expanded to 749 local levels of 77 districts of the country. Cumulative registration to the programme so far has reached 8.95 million while active insured individuals by the end of February this year was 5.75 million – 20 per cent of the total population.

Likewise, the number of active enrolled households has gone up from 238,492 in 2017 to 982,062 – excluding senior citizens - by February 2024. Including senior citizens, 2.07 million families are active in health insurance, making it a 31 per cent of the total households, according to the Board.  

While family members up to five individuals are considered one unit in the insurance programme, senior citizens are considered one unit per individual.

As per the NIB statistics, there is imbalance in participation among the provinces. Gandaki province has 34 per cent of the total insured under the health insurance, followed by Koshi with 33 per cent, Bagmati 26 per cent, and Lumbinin and Karnali 14 per cent each. But Sudurpaschim and Madhes have only 11 per cent and 7 per cent share in the total insured population.

"The low participation of provinces lagging behind in human development is a matter of concern. It seems necessary to give more priority to including everyone in health insurance, especially the backward classes, communities, and regions," the Board said.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 26 April 2025.        

Health, Education and Innovation Conference kicks off in Lalitpur

Kathmandu, Apr. 12

An international conference on 'Advancing Health Education, Research and Innovation' kicked off on Saturday in Lalitpur.

The two-day event is being jointly organised by the Central Department of Education at Tribhuvan University and the Health Education Association Nepal (HEAN), with support from the University Grants Commission.

The opening ceremony featured key figures including Shambhu Prasad Khatiwada, Associate Chair of the Central Department of Education; Pabitra Subedi, Member of the Education Service Commission; and Professor Dr. Bedraj Acharya, Dean of the Faculty of Education at Tribhuvan University.

Other distinguished guests included Dr. Tulsi Ram Bhandari from Pokhara University, Ashok Kumar Benju, Mayor of Dhulikhel Municipality and representatives from various academic and governmental institutions.

Journal of HEAN was launched at the conference and special recognition was given to Achyut Dev Sitaula for his contributions to HEAN, and recent PhD graduates in health education were honoured with certificates of appreciation.

Professor Dr. Sarah Bauman of the University of Pittsburgh, USA, delivered the keynote address. The plenary session featured presentations on healthy cities by Mayor Ashok Kumar Benju and public health expert Dr. Dirgha Raj Shrestha.

Professor Dr. Bhimsen Devkota, Chairperson of HEAN, said that 18 research papers were presented and discussed across two parallel sessions. Four interactive poster sessions also took place, providing a platform for emerging researchers.

The event featured cultural performances showcasing local traditions, along with sessions on yoga and meditation, reflecting a holistic approach to health and well-being.

According to Dr. Kalpana Gyawali, Vice President of HEAN, the conference aims to highlight the importance of health education in shaping public policy and advancing societal well-being. Dr Bhagwan Aryal, General Secretary of HEAN, informed that around 300 participants from Nepal and abroad are attending.

In addition to the academic sessions, HEAN’s 17th General Assembly and elections for a new central committee are also being held during the conference.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 13 April 2025.