Twenty-four civil society organizations and non-state actors have formed an alliance to advocate for improving the human resources for health in Nepal.

The organizations include the country’s major INGOs, NGOs, Donors, professional organizations, educational institutions and heath worker unions engaged in the health sector.

Issuing a press release on Monday, the alliance said it will lobby for evidence-based strategy for human resources for health and its implementation and lobby for increased financial investment to increase the number of health workers, healthcare facilities and sufficient and quality equipment for the facilities. Moreover, the alliance said it will also call for improving the health systems that create the right environment for health workers to work with enthusiasm and efficiency so that no Nepali should die for want of a skilled health worker.

The alliance also called for evidence based health policies and strategies that are strongly supported by political authorities and sectoral stakeholders.

Save the Children Country Director for Nepal and Bhutan Brian J Hunter said, “Health workers are crucial in saving lives, including those of women and children. Nepal would benefit hugely from putting health workers at the heart of its health plan so that they will work in the places where they are most needed and acquire the skills and resources they need to save lives.” Save the Children is one of the members to the alliance.

Nepal’s Human Resources for Health is in critical condition. The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies Nepal as one of bottom 20 countries among 57 with critical shortage of human resources for health. There are just 7 health professionals for 10,000 people in Nepal, a lot less than the 23 needed to provide health services adequately.

The current human resources for health in Nepal is based on a structure guided by the health policy promulgated in 1991. Since then the population has increased by two/thirds and the structure is under tremendous pressure to cater services to the increasing population.

It must noted here that there are just 2 doctors, 2 nurses, 2.4 auxiliary nurse midwives, 6.3 community health workers, 1.2 lab technicians, 0.1 dentists, 0.1 pharmacists, and 0.1 public and environmental health workers for 10,000 people in Nepal. nepalnews.com