Encouraging programme

Encouraging programme

The local health delivery system of Nepal is one of the best systems in the Asian region considering its organizational structure. In each 4300 VDCs, we will find one service outlet that is rendering primary health services to the local population. Nonetheless, its effectiveness in providing health services throughout the year is questionable for many good reasons. Lack of trained health workers, inadequate supply of medicines and lack of proper infrastructures are the major problems which have been the hindrances in providing quality health services.

The announcement of gradual implementation of “One village, one Doctor to ensure basic health for all” (THT, 15 July, Page 2) made by the government in its 2015-16 annual budget seems interesting and encouraging. However, unless the government becomes serious in implementing this program, it will remain only in black and white. The government had not even been able to recruit and assign field level health workers in all its service outlets in the past. Assigning doctor at the VDC level service outlets does seem bit challenging.

Nonetheless, the proposed program needs to be positively taken. It helps to create additional jobs and provide good opportunity for young doctors to serve the rural people. It is also hoped that this ambitious program may help to check brain drain trend and retain the required human resources in the country. For this, the future government needs to be sincere and committed in affectively implementing this program with the intention of providing quality health services to its people at their door steps.

Rai Biren Bangdel

Maharajgunj.