A recent workshop in Dhulikhel marked the commencement of a five-day training program aimed at enhancing the capacity of 30 federal and provincial health officials in health economics. This initiative forms part of a unique fellowship program titled “Health Economics for Policy,” which is the first of its kind in Nepal. The primary objective of the workshop is to equip decision-makers with the necessary skills to incorporate economic evidence into health planning and decision-making processes.
The nine-month fellowship program seeks to address a critical gap in formal training on health economics by providing participants with practical experience in various areas such as cost analysis, economic evaluation, health financing, and strategic priority setting. These skills are intended to facilitate the country’s progression towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC), especially crucial as Nepal grapples with resource allocation decisions, maintaining service quality, and safeguarding vulnerable populations from high healthcare costs.
Organized by the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) in collaboration with the Bergen Centre for Ethics and Priority Setting in Health (BCEPS) at the University of Bergen (UiB), the training program also involves local academia at Kathmandu University, along with partnerships with the Nepal Health Economics Association (NHEA) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The initiative is part of a NORAD-funded project focused on priority setting for UHC in Nepal, reflecting a joint effort between MoHP and UiB to strengthen health policy through evidence-based decision-making.
During the workshop, distinguished figures such as Prof. Dr. Shiva Raj Adhikari emphasized the critical role of health economics in national planning, urging participants to provide feedback that could enhance national strategies. Dr. Keshar Dhakal highlighted the ministry’s commitment to ensuring the constitutional right to health and meeting Sustainable Development Goals, emphasizing the necessity of robust capacity in cost analysis, cost-effectiveness evaluation, and data management within the health system.
Furthermore, the program aligns with the government’s National Health Financing Strategy 2023-2033, focusing on making health investments transparent, accountable, and evidence-driven. Dr. Krishna Aryal from BCEPS emphasized the significance of evidence-based policy and capacity strengthening, underscoring the program’s potential to serve as a model for other countries. The workshop also aimed to bridge the gap between academia and government, with a particular emphasis on practical application and decision-making relevance.
Key Takeaways:
– The health economics training program in Nepal aims to enhance decision-makers’ skills in incorporating economic evidence into health policies.
– Collaboration between the MoHP, BCEPS, and other partners demonstrates a concerted effort to strengthen health policy through evidence-based decision-making.
– The program supports Nepal’s progression towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by addressing resource allocation challenges and ensuring high-quality healthcare services.
– By focusing on capacity building, cost analysis, and strategic priority setting, the initiative contributes to the government’s National Health Financing Strategy and Sustainable Development Goals.
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