National Health Policy of Nepal
2076 (2019)
The constitution of Nepal has established basic health care as a fundament right of its citizens. As the country has moved to federal governance system, it is the responsibility of the state to ensure the access of quality health services for all citizens based on contextual norms of federal system.
This National Health
Policy, 2019 has been formulated on the basis of thelists of exclusive and
concurrent powers and functions of federal, state and local levels as per the
constitution; the policies and programmes of the Government of Nepal; the
international commitments made by Nepal at different times; and the problems,
challenges, available resources and evidences in the health sector.
Guiding Principles
In order
to ensure constitutional rights of citizens
to health services
through a federal
health system and to ensure universal access to
quality health services, this policy has been formulated on the basis of the
following guiding principles:
a. Universal access to, continuous availability of, transparency and comprehensiveness in quality health services;
b. Multi−sectoral involvement, collaboration and partnership in health system in accordance with the federal structure;
c.
Special health
services targeted to ultra marginalised, Dalit and indigenous communities;
d.
Good health
governance and assurance of adequate financial
investments;
e.
Diversification of
equitable health insurance;
f.
Restructuring in the
health services;
g.
Health and multi−sectoral coordination and collaboration in all policies;
h.
Professionalism,
honesty and occupational ethics in health service delivery.
Vision
Healthy, alert and conscious citizens oriented to happy life.
Mission
To ensure the fundamental health rights of citizens through optimum and effective use of resources, collaboration and partnerships.
Goals
To develop and expand a health system for all citizens in the federal structure based on social justice and good governance and ensure access to and utilisation of quality health services.
Objectives
- To create opportunities for all citizens to use their constitutional rights to health;
- To develop, expand and improve all types of health systems as per the federal structure;
- To improve the quality of health services delivered by health institutions of all levels and to ensure easy access to those services;
- To strengthen social health protection system by integrating the most marginalised sections;
- To promote multi−sectoral partnership and collaboration between governmental, non−governmental and private sectors and to promote community involvement; and
- To transform the health sector from profit−orientation to service−orientation.
Policies
- Free basic health services shall be ensured from health institutions of all levels as specified;
- Specialised services shall be made easily accessible through health insurance;
- Access to basic emergency health services shall be ensured for all citizens;
- Health system shall be restructured, improved, developed and expanded at federal, state and local levels as per the federal structure;
- In accordance with the concept of universal health coverage, promotional, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative services shall be developed and expanded in an integrated manner;
- Collaboration and partnerships among governmental, non−governmental and private sectors shall be promoted, managed and regulated in the health sector and private, internal and external investments in health education, services and researches shall be encouraged and protected;
- Ayurveda, naturopathy, Yoga and homeopathy shall be developed and expanded in an integrated way;
- In order to make health services accessible, effective and qualitative, skilled health human resources shall be developed and expanded according to the size of population, topography and federal structure, hence managing health services;
- Structures of Health Professional Councils shall be developed, expanded and improved to make health services provided by individuals and institutions effective, accountable and qualitative;
- Domestic production of quality drugs and technological health materials shall be promoted and their access and proper utilisation shall be ensured through regulation and management of eficient production, supply, storage and distribution;
- Integrated preparedness and response measures shall be adopted to combat communicable diseases, insect−borne and animal−borne diseases, problems related with climate change, other diseases, epidemics and disasters;
- Individuals, families, societies and concerned agencies shall be made responsible for prevention and control of non−communicable diseases and integrated health system shall be developed and expanded;
- In order to improve nutritional situation, adulterated and harmful foods shall be discouraged and promotion, production, use and access to qualitative and healthy foods shall be expanded;
- Health researches shall be made of international standards and the findings and facts of such reports shall be effectively used in policy formulation, planning and health system development;
- The health management information system shall be made modern, qualitative and technology−friendly and integrated health information system shall be developed;
- Right to information related to health and right of a beneficiary to know about the treatment shall be ensured;
- Mental health, oral, eye, ENT (ear, nose and throat) health services shall be developed and expanded;
- Quality of health services provided by all health institutions including hospitals shall be ensured;
- Good governance and improvement shall be ensured in policy−related, institutional and managerial structures in the health sector through timely amendments;
- In accordance with the concept of health across the lifecycle, health services around safe motherhood, child health, adolescence and reproductive health, adult and senior citizen shall be developed and expanded;
- Necessary financial resources and special fund shall be arranged for sustainable development of the health sector;
- Urbanisation, internal and external migration shall be managed and public health problems associated with such phenomena shall be resolved;
- Demographic statistics shall be managed, researched and analysed to link them with the policy decisions and programme designing;
- Antimicrobial resistance shall be reduced, one−door health policy shall be developed and expanded for the control and management of communicable diseases, environmental pollution such as air pollution, sound pollution and water pollution shall be scientifically regulated and controlled;
- Necessary arrangements shall be made to reduce the risks of immigration process on public health and to provide health protection to Nepalese staying abroad.
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