Doctor shortage chronic in Karnali Province. Recruitment efforts utterly unsucessful

Specialist doctors are sorely lacking as only 10 out of 79 positions are occupied. More than 500 health worker positions are vacant.

Doctors and health workers think they are being punished when they get transferred to health facilities in Karnali Province, which has been affecting services at public health institutions in the province for years. Even those doctors and health workers who are from outside the province and have been working in Karnali for years say that providing services is challenging although not impossible.