Medical Equipment Audit In Nepal Hospitals: Ministry of Health Enforces New Policy For Better Maintenance
10th July 2025, Kathmandu
The Ministry of Health and Population has issued a new directive requiring all federal hospitals across Nepal to conduct comprehensive audits of their medical equipment.
Medical Equipment Audit Nepal Hospitals
Hospitals must now assess the condition of all medical devices and submit detailed audit reports to the ministry. This initiative aims to improve medical equipment management, ensure timely repairs, and strengthen healthcare service delivery across the country.
Ministry Seeks Accurate and Reliable Data on Hospital Medical Equipment
The Ministry of Health highlighted that there has been no reliable system to track the condition and availability of medical equipment in federal hospitals. Health Minister Dr. Pradip Paudel raised concerns about the lack of data on hospital equipment status, which hampers effective maintenance and resource allocation.
To address this issue, the ministry assigned the National Innovation Center to inspect and repair broken or malfunctioning medical devices. During this process, many medical devices that could be repaired with minimal cost were found left unused or stored, leading to unnecessary expenditures on new equipment.
Medical Equipment Audit: A Long-Awaited Step for Better Healthcare Management
Efforts to introduce mandatory audits of medical equipment in hospitals have been underway for the last three years. The recent directive by the Ministry of Health formally makes these audits compulsory for all federal hospitals. Dr. Saroj Sharma, Chief of the Quality Measurement and Control Division at the ministry, emphasized that the audit system will improve record-keeping, equipment safety, and maintenance planning.
This audit will help hospitals accurately identify equipment status, determine necessary repairs, and optimize stock management. It will also assist the ministry in effective planning for equipment replacement and procurement.
Reducing Unnecessary Spending Through Timely Equipment Repairs
Dr. Sharma pointed out that many hospitals have been neglecting repairs for medical devices that could easily be fixed at a low cost. This neglect often results in costly new purchases. A recent study conducted through the National Innovation Center revealed that equipment valued at approximately NPR 240 million was lying unused due to minor defects. The center successfully repaired this equipment for just NPR 2.3 million, demonstrating the potential cost savings through proper maintenance.
Enhancing Equipment Utilization via Efficient Redistribution
The audit data will also facilitate the identification of medical equipment that remains unused in certain hospitals but is urgently needed in others. Ministry officials stated that this system will enable efficient redistribution of equipment, optimizing resource utilization and reducing wastage across the federal hospital network.
Ministry of Health’s Commitment to Strengthening Healthcare Infrastructure
This move to enforce medical equipment audits aligns with the Ministry of Health’s broader commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure and service delivery in Nepal. By ensuring proper equipment management, maintenance, and timely repairs, the ministry aims to enhance the quality of patient care and operational efficiency in federal hospitals.
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