Government to Expand Health Services in Upcoming Fiscal Year 2082/83, Improve Health Insurance

Kathmandu – The Government of Nepal has laid out an ambitious roadmap to decentralize specialized medical services and transform the country’s health infrastructure. The new plans, outlined in the national policy and program for the upcoming fiscal year, signal a broad restructuring of the health system aimed at ensuring access to quality care across all seven provinces.
One of the major highlights is the expansion of intensive burn and cardiac care services beyond the federal capital. This move is rooted in priorities set by Minister of Health and Population, Pradeep Paudel, who had previously emphasized the need for specialized services to reach provincial levels. In addition, cancer treatment and kidney transplant services are also being scaled up to the provinces, while free cancer treatment for children under 14 and the rollout of HPV vaccines have been announced as part of preventive efforts.

Another central feature of the government’s plan is an overhaul of the national health insurance system. With fragmented resources cited as a persistent issue, the government aims to consolidate all state subsidies and support under one unified insurance mechanism.

To reduce strain on the system, basic and essential medicines will now be included in the insurance package. The move also addresses institutional inefficiencies by seeking integration with existing services under the Social Security Fund and Employees Provident Fund.

In an effort to streamline patient services and address long-standing public dissatisfaction with outdated hospital operations, the government has committed to launching an integrated online referral and bed-tracking system. This platform, developed via the Nagarik App, is expected to enhance coordination among hospitals and make it easier for citizens to access timely treatment.

Further cementing its public health strategy, the government is initiating the “Healthy Nepal Campaign,” a collaborative effort among federal, provincial, and local bodies to provide citizens with equitable access to basic health services. A major focus of the campaign will be eliminating redundancies in health spending and optimizing available resources.

Minister Paudel is also placing renewed focus on preventive care. In a landmark move, the month of Falgun will be officially observed as Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Screening Month. This annual initiative will feature screenings for cervical cancer in women and other NCDs in the general population.

To address critical gaps in neurological care, the government has approved plans to establish the National Neuroscience Center in Kathmandu. This will be the first government-run institution dedicated to treating brain, spinal cord, and neurological disorders.

In the realm of alternative medicine, the establishment of Yogamaya Ayurveda University is also on the cards. The university aims to strengthen the Ayurveda sector and cultivate a homegrown pool of skilled professionals.

The government is also tackling broader demographic challenges. A new population policy will be introduced to counter the declining birth rate seen in many districts, with the aim of keeping it above replacement level. This will be supported by linking the demographic registration system with the integrated health information system to enhance policy planning.

Public health preparedness is set to improve through the reinforcement of disease surveillance mechanisms designed to detect and contain infectious disease outbreaks efficiently.