7th September 2025, Kathmandu
The Ministry of Health and Population of Nepal has signed a comprehensive performance agreement with six key health science institutes to significantly transform the nation’s healthcare delivery system.
Health Ministry Signs Performance Agreement
The agreement, signed by Health Minister Pradeep Paudel, focuses on three main pillars: enhancing common services across all institutes, fostering strategic collaborations for specialized care, and implementing institute-specific action plans. This landmark initiative aims to move beyond traditional healthcare models by emphasizing digital transformation, patient-friendly services, and strong governance to ensure that improvements are not just theoretical but are tangible to patients and the wider public.
Transforming Patient Services Through Digital and Governance Reforms
At the core of this agreement are a series of common commitments that all six health science institutes must adopt. A primary focus is the modernization of patient services through technology. The full implementation of digital token systems and online appointment booking is a crucial step to reduce long queues and manage hospital crowds more efficiently, directly addressing a long-standing challenge for patients in Nepal. This digital shift will be further supported by the introduction of Electronic Medical Records (EMR), in line with the government’s “Integrated Electronic Medical Record Directive, 2081.” This directive aims to create a streamlined, national system for patient data, making medical histories accessible across different health facilities. This interoperability is a significant move towards an evidence-based and data-driven healthcare system.
In addition to digital services, the agreement mandates improvements in basic patient-friendly services. The establishment of help desks and appointment assistants at hospital entrances is a simple but effective measure to guide patients and improve their experience from the moment they arrive. Furthermore, all hospital pharmacies are required to operate at full capacity to ensure a continuous and reliable supply of essential medicines, including those covered under the national health insurance scheme.
The agreement also introduces robust governance and accountability mechanisms. By implementing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), the ministry can systematically monitor and evaluate the performance of each institute. The commitment to strengthen grievance redress mechanisms ensures that patient complaints are handled promptly and transparently. Additionally, proper medical waste management, in line with national standards, is a critical commitment for ensuring a clean and safe hospital environment for both patients and healthcare workers.
Strategic Collaboration for Specialized Care
A key feature of this performance agreement is the focus on strategic collaboration to expand specialized care services, which are often limited to a few urban centers. One of the most critical collaborations is in burn treatment. The National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS), which manages Bir Hospital, will coordinate with Kirtipur Hospital, a leading center for burn care, to strengthen its burn treatment ward. This partnership aims to address the high incidence of burn injuries in Nepal, particularly in rural areas where access to specialized care is severely lacking. Pokhara Academy and B.P. Koirala Institute will also be expanding their burn treatment services, creating a more distributed network of care for burn victims.
Another major collaboration is in cancer treatment. The Pokhara Health Sciences Academy will work with the B.P. Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital in Bharatpur to expand cancer care services in Gandaki Province. This is a vital step in making specialized oncology services more accessible outside the Kathmandu Valley, reducing the travel and financial burden on patients from other regions.
The agreement also includes institute-specific action plans tailored to each institute’s strengths and regional needs. For instance, NAMS is tasked with starting MBBS programs and finalizing the expansion plans for Bir Hospital. It will also establish four Metro Health Centers in Kathmandu Valley to extend specialized care to local governments. Patan Academy of Health Sciences will pursue a complete digital transformation to become a paperless institution and also establish four satellite health centers. Karnali Academy will focus on regional health challenges, conducting research on prevalent diseases and launching telemedicine services to reach remote, underserved communities. This is particularly crucial in a country with challenging geography, as telemedicine can bridge the gap between rural patients and urban specialists. Rapti Academy will launch a screening program for Sickle Cell Anemia, a disease with high prevalence in its service area, and will operate a cath lab to expand its neurology and cardiology services. Finally, the B.P. Koirala Institute is committed to completing and operationalizing a 400-bed maternal and child health center, directly addressing a critical need for reproductive and pediatric care.
Broader Impact on Healthcare in Nepal
This performance agreement signifies a major shift in Nepal’s healthcare strategy. Rather than a top-down, one-size-fits-all approach, it represents a coordinated effort to leverage the strengths of each institution while addressing nationwide gaps in service. The focus on digital transformation and equitable access through initiatives like telemedicine and satellite health centers will make healthcare more efficient and available to a broader population. The emphasis on governance and accountability is a direct response to public demand for more reliable and transparent healthcare services. With Minister Pradeep Paudel’s strong backing and a commitment to continuous monitoring, this agreement is poised to reshape Nepal’s healthcare landscape by fostering a system that is more resilient, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of its citizens. The collaboration on burn and cancer treatment, in particular, will save lives and improve the quality of life for thousands of patients who previously had limited access to such critical care