Sustainable health insurance for all

The new government should follow the constitutional directive of access to free basic health services.

Article 35 of the Constitution of Nepal guarantees the right of citizens to free basic health services from the state. However, in practice, health care is one of the most commercialised sectors in Nepal. There are abundant private hospitals with opulent facilities in Kathmandu and other urban areas, but healthcare facilities are still rudimentary in rural regions. According to a 2021 data from the Ministry of Health and Population, there were 110 hospitals, 10 health centres, 3,789 health posts and 3,176 sub-health posts in Nepal. The frequency of physicians is one per 18,400 people. Nepal is among the countries with the lowest global health care index —ranking 107th globally, and 6th among eight South Asian countries. The main reason for this is the inefficiently implemented health care policy over the years. Apart from that, the unbearable cost of medical services in private and inadequate facilities in government hospitals are also the reasons that are alienating the citizens from the constitutionally guaranteed right to basic health care services.