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1. TRENDS IN POLICY
DEVELOPMENT
The national health policy was adopted in 1991 (FY 2048
BS) to bring about improvement in the health conditions of the people of
Nepal with emphasis on (i) preventive health
services (ii) promotive health services (iii)
curative health services (iv) basic primary health services with one health
post each in the entire 205 electoral constituencies to be converted into
primary health care centre (v) ayurvedic and other
traditional health services (vi) community participation (vii) human
resources for health development (viii) resource mobilisation
(ix) decentralisation and regionalisation
(x) drug supply, and (xi) health research.
The second long term health plan (SLTHP) 1997-2017 (FY
2054-2074) aims at guiding health sector development for improving the health
of the inhabitants, particularly those whose health needs are not often
met. The main objectives of SLTHP are:
 To
improve the health status of the most vulnerable groups, particularly those
whose health needs often are not met - women and children, the rural population,
the poor, the underprivileged, and the marginalized population
To
extend to all districts cost-effective public health measures and essential
curative services for the appropriate treatment of common diseases and
injuries
To
provide technically competent and socially responsible health
personnel in appropriate numbers for quality health care throughout the
country, particularly in under-served areas
To
improve the management and organisation of the
public health sector and to increase the efficiency and effectiveness
of the health care system
To
develop appropriate roles for NGOs, and the public and private sectors in
providing health services; and
To
improve inter-and intra-sectoral coordination and to provide the necessary
support for effective decentralisation of
health care services with full community participation
To
increase total health expenditure to 10 percent of total government
expenditure (Ministry of Health, Annual Report 2002/2003).
The national health policy aims at improvement in the
health conditions of the people of Nepal through extension of primary health
care system to the rural population with a view to provide the benefits of
modern medical facilities through trained health care providers; active
involvement of private sector and NGOs in health services; and adequate
training and community participation.
The strategic analysis of health sector in 1999 resulted
in the development of the medium term strategic plan for the 10th five-year
health plan (2002-07). This included
essential, affordable and accessible health care services, promote a
public-private NGO partnership, decentralise the
health system and execute particular approaches at all levels, and to improve
quality of health care through the public/private/NGO partnership by total
quality management of human, financial and physical resources.
Considering the Local Self Governance Act (LSGA) of 1999
and the decentralised health management of the
Health Sector Reform Strategy (HSRS), it is anticipated that more resources
will be mobilised at the local level to ensure
financial sustainability (Ministry of Health, Annual Report 2002/2003).
The Nepal
government is committed to bring about tangible changes in the health-sector
development process. It aims at
providing an equitable, high quality health care system for all the Nepalese
during tenth five-year plan (2002-07). The proportion of the government
budget allocated to health will increase from the present 5 percent to 6.5
percent in 2006 and 7 percent in 2009 (Nepal health sector programme
implementation plan, 2004-09).
10 year plan of Health, National Planning Commission
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