‘Health to be cross-cutting in all policies’

Kathmandu, March 6 ,,  The National Planning Commission has made the draft of the 15th plan public with a vision of producing healthy, productive, responsible and happy citizens. The plan adopts a strategy to ensure basic, specialized and quality health services to all the citizens, including preventive and curative services.
In the plan for the financial year 2076/77 to 2077/78, the plan has taken up the strategy to advance the ayurvedic, natural, homeopathy and other medical system while further expanding and improving mother-child, children and adolescents-friendly sex and reproductive health and family planning services.
Likewise, a sustainable health finance system is aid to be developed by increasing investment in the health sector while developing skills health workers at the federal, state and local level hospitals and health centres, on the basis of population distribution, geographical situation and needs. Presently, around five per cent of the total budget of the government is allocated for the health service. The World Health Organisation suggests allocation of at least 10 per cent of the budget.
The 15th plan has also given priority to collaboration with the private and non-government sector, while ensuring the leading role of the government in the health sector. An integrated measure for preparedness and response would be adopted for public health disaster management.
Furthermore, the scope of Nepal Health Research Council would be amended to suit to changing times, while expanding its reached to the State level, integrating the health information system, increasing use of data at the policy making level, minimizing health risks from migration and including health in all policy through multisectoral coordination.
The strategy is also expected to support the government campaign of ‘prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepalis.’
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