E-Kantipur

KATHMANDU, SEP 10 -

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that Nepal review its policies and strategies regarding human resources on health to improve the quality of its health care system.

The recommendation comes amidst a regional meeting of the 11 WHO members states from the South-East Asian region in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The gathering was attended by WHO Director General Dr Margaret Chan, regional director for South-East Asia Dr Samlee Plianbangchang and health ministers from the member states.

A WHO statement stated that Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Indonesia and Myanmar have a critical shortage of trained health workers, as these countries have fewer than 23 health workers (doctors, nurses and midwives) per 10,000 people. The UN body said that this number is considered the minimum health workforce needed to achieve 80 percent coverage of essential health interventions.

“More people lack access to health-care providers in the WHO South-East Asia Region than in WHO’s African Region,” read the statement.

The WHO also noted that for these countries to achieve universal health coverage they need a competent and motivated health workforce trained in adequate numbers with an appropriate mix of skills.

According to data from the Ministry of Health and Population, there are 0.4 doctors and 2.3 nurses per 10,000 population.

Posted on: 2012-09-10 08:21

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