Submit your Article

A new diplomatic initiative, the International Relations Concern Community (IRCC) Nepal, has been launched under the leadership of Dr. Hari Prakash Chand. The initiative aims to enhance the diplomatic acumen of the state and build a consensus on key issues of Nepal’s foreign policy.

The concept paper of IRCC Nepal was presented on Saturday during a seminar titled ‘Nepal’s Political System and Foreign Policy after the Gen-Z Movement.’ The paper emphasizes the urgent need to reform Nepal’s diplomatic appointment system to strengthen the nation’s international reputation.

“For the sake of Nepal’s international image, the appointment of diplomats representing the country must be conducted with utmost seriousness and careful consideration,” the paper states. 

It warns that repeating past weak practices will only further deteriorate Nepal’s foreign affairs and diplomacy.

The concept paper proposes that Nepal adopt a merit-based system in which only qualified subject-matter experts are appointed as diplomats, following global standards and best practices.

According to the paper, eligible candidates should include:

• Professors or academic experts with a Ph.D. in International Relations, Diplomacy, Political Science, International Law, or Economics, who are actively engaged in teaching or research.
• Individuals holding a Ph.D. in any discipline with at least 15 years of service in the foreign service.
• For political appointments, those with a minimum of 15 years of active involvement and significant contributions in the foreign affairs departments of political parties, holding a Ph.D. in any field, or independent experts in the related disciplines.
• Individuals with at least 15 years of experience in other diplomatic missions, or those who have served as heads of diplomatic missions for at least one term.
• Researchers with a minimum of 10 years of experience in foreign affairs–related think tanks.
• Individuals who have led missions in international peacekeeping or other missions under the Nepalese Army.

The IRCC initiative seeks to institutionalize professionalism, academic expertise, and meritocracy in Nepal’s foreign service to strengthen the country’s diplomatic standing globally.

Over the past three and a half decades of political upheavals, Nepal’s healthcare system has remained in a prolonged state of transition. Governance has shifted from a centralized to a federal model. Financing has expanded from a mix of state-funded programs and out-of-pocket payments to include health insurance and growing for-profit incentives. The major scope of care has moved from predominantly preventive to hospital-based services, with increasing focus on chronic non-communicable diseases.

Political instability has delayed or inhibited reforms, yet the intervening profound societal transformations have made restructuring both urgent and unavoidable. Such transformations include a shift from a largely rural agrarian society to a predominantly urban and “modern” one, rapid evolution of formidable new challenges, such as climate change and ecocide, antimicrobial resistance, migration-related health issues, and the unchecked profiteering and commodification of healthcare. At the same time, the transitions in governance, financing, and professional capacity offer new opportunities to reimagine the health system.

Covid-19 exposed deep structural weaknesses in Nepal’s healthcare system. Unlike a few comparable low- and middle-income countries that fared better than Nepal during the pandemic, Nepal lacked a trusted and effective primary care network and a data-driven public health system rooted in communities. Socioeconomic and political factors that had been neglected for decades made it inevitable that the country would struggle to respond effectively.

With the above in mind, here are some changes that I would like to see in the healthcare arena in Nepal.

Bring health to the community through a robust primary care system

In Nepal, “healthcare” is still understood largely as treatment primarily provided in hospitals or smaller health centers. Preventive and public health services that normally can contribute far more in keeping the population healthy are not even considered by many as important health services. The scope of public health services is also largely limited to childhood vaccination programs, maternal and child health programs, and a few other programs run by poorly trained health workers or volunteers.

The services provided at health centers, which the state has prioritized, are naturally more focused on the diagnostic and therapeutic aspects. But real health is produced in households and in communities. Awareness related to hygiene, nutrition and education, the importance of public health services or of avoiding superstition and addiction, and the value of financial security are formed early and determine lifelong wellbeing. Strengthening these socio-economic determinants through family and community-level interventions is the most effective and least expensive investment the state can make in order to raise a healthy nation..

The focus of healthcare must therefore shift from hospitals to households. This requires systematic expansion of a public health system network that reaches every community and is led by well-trained professionals using data, science, and social engagement. Such a system would empower citizens to take ownership not only of their personal health behaviors and lifestyle choices, but also of broader determinants like pollution, food safety, the expanse of vegetation and public spaces, walkability and safety from road traffic in the neighborhood, and ecological sustainability. Only such a system would get the country out of the perennial clutch of food and waterborne illnesses. It would also allow the country to be better prepared for emerging mega-challenges such as atmospheric pollution and ecocide, mental health crises, antimicrobial resistance and novel pandemic threats.

A community-based primary care system, staffed by competent general practitioners, nurses, and health workers trained in community health, and supported by a strong referral network of secondary and tertiary hospitals, is essential for universal, affordable, and equitable care.

Create a National Health Service

Government-run healthcare in Nepal is largely confined to poorly managed and poorly equipped district hospitals and overcrowded provincial or federal facilities. As a result, an estimated one-third to two-thirds of Nepalis seek care from private, for-profit providers. The health market is driven by profit, rewarding overuse of tests and therapies, particularly intravenous over oral medications, unnecessary tests and procedures, including surgeries, frequent visits, and longer hospital stays.

There are no effective legal or regulatory checks on such conflicts of interest. Oversight bodies are weakened by regulatory capture, with for-profit interests deeply entrenched in professional councils, medical associations, education boards, and even government institutions. Over time, this erosion of ethics has spread to public hospitals as well.

Ordinary citizens ultimately bear the cost, facing information asymmetry, stark inequities in access and quality, unsustainable expenses, and a healthcare system that serves poorly for everyone everywhere.

These problems cannot be solved through technical or procedural tweaks alone. Real progress requires realigning incentives toward universal, high-quality, and equitable care, beginning with a planned, gradual phase-out of profit motives in healthcare, as was done in many Western nations where free market capitalism is otherwise idolized. The first step is to reform remuneration and financial policies so that all arrangements creating conflicts of interest in patient care are strictly prohibited.

State-run health institutions suffer from chronic inefficiency, poor management, and lack of direction. There are at least several examples of comparably situated and funded non-government hospitals delivering far better care and higher patient satisfaction with similar resources. Basic protocols for safety and quality—standard elsewhere for decades—are often missing, despite requiring minimal technology or cost.

The health bureaucracy shows little capacity to assess population needs, anticipate future challenges, or use available expertise effectively. It remains overly dependent on I/NGOs to set agendas and even run programs. Weak systems for workforce management, worker safety, and fair remuneration further undermine morale and performance.

This bureaucracy, built without a culture of continuous improvement, struggles to deliver even the basics, such as ensuring paracetamol availability during dengue outbreaks or keeping the population safe from easily controllable scourges like cholera. It cannot be expected to reduce financial barriers to health access, curb out-of-pocket spending, or achieve universal healthcare without fundamental reform.

Nepal’s healthcare system, both public health and clinical, needs a complete overhaul. A National Health Service should be established to realize health as a human right and provide universal care through a unified, adaptable system capable of meeting the evolving health challenges of the future.

Human resource and remuneration policies must be flexible and competitive to attract and retain expertise at all levels. Only such a system can deliver reliable community-based primary care, integrate public health with clinical services, uphold professionalism and accountability, realign incentives toward equity and innovation, and advance quality, efficiency, sustainability, and social justice.

Invest in health education and healthcare professionals’ education

To that end, the Health Education Commission should work with the government or National Health Service to assess system needs for human resources and guide public and private academic institutions accordingly. The immediate priority is to develop skilled human resources in primary care, clinical subspecialties, nursing, allied health, and laboratory sciences. The different levels of the government should financially incentivize both the training and post-training recruitment pathways of critical human resources, such as rural primary care specialists, that are not currently considered attractive careers.

Reorganize budget priorities and expand healthcare investment

The healthcare budget should be increased to match the vision of health as a public good, not a commodity. Health financing must be made more efficient, sustainable, and focused on continual improvement of the standards, scope and accessibility of the services, and on reduced financial burden for citizens and the state. Nepal can learn numerous lessons from other low- and middle-income countries that have built robust healthcare systems through effective health financing. Health insurance should be reoriented for sustainability and impact - but it is only one part of the solution. The state must view healthcare as a long-term, high-return investment in national development rather than just a fiscal obligation.

Build a culture of research and innovation

Health research in Nepal suffers from poor awareness of priorities, lack of rigor and quality, limited funding in a “market” ecosystem, and weak institutional support or even bureaucratic obstructionism. The body assigned with the dual role of regulating research in the country as well as promoting and conducting research—the Nepal Health Research Council—is itself mired in serious conflicts of interest and needs urgent restructuring, retaining only the regulatory functions. Research should be embedded within Ministry divisions, academic institutions and major hospitals and public health units to generate evidence that drives reform. Building such internal research capacity within the government health network (or the National Health Service) is essential for an accountable, self-learning, adaptive, and independent healthcare system.

In conclusion, Nepal’s healthcare reform must be guided by one principle: health is a human right, not a commodity. A unified, science-guided, community-rooted health system—free from perverse incentives and powered by research, education, and public trust—can finally deliver health and dignity for all.

Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Nepal Udo Eugen Volz and Marianne Beck-Volz graciously hosted a reception at the ambassador’s residence in Gyaneshwor on Friday to commemorate the 35th Anniversary of the Day of German Unity and 67 years of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Germany.

Vice President Ram Sahay Yadav graced the occasion as the special guest.

In his welcome remarks, Ambassador Volz stated, “Today, as we celebrate 35 years of German Unity, we also mark 67 years of bilateral relations between Nepal and Germany. Germany has stood by Nepal through challenging times — during the civil war, the 2015 earthquake, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the current democratic renewal. We appreciate the commitment to reinforce democratic values like accountability and service delivery to the people of Nepal,” reads a statement issued by the German Embassy in Kathmandu.

This year also commemorates 51 years of GIZ’s presence in Nepal, 62 years since the establishment of KfW, and 18 years of PTB's engagement in the country.

As key institutions under the German Development Cooperation, Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) has been providing impactful technical assistance to Nepal, while Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau (KfW) has supported the country through financial cooperation across diverse sectors.

Likewise, the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) — Germany’s national metrology institute — has been contributing to strengthening Nepal’s quality infrastructure by supporting standards, metrology, testing, and accreditation systems that promote fair trade and enhance industrial competitiveness.

Government bodies, political leaders, diplomats, business people, journalists, and intellectuals, reflecting the enduring partnership and shared values between Nepal and Germany, attended the event.

Third Trans-Himalayan Forum on Communication and Social Development kicked off in Kathmandu.

The event was jointly organized by the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC), Kangba TV (China), Tribhuvan University, and Himalaya Television (Nepal).

Held under the theme “Peripheral Digital Communication and Regional Public Governance, the forum aims to address shared challenges through digital innovation and cross-border collaboration.

Amid complex and shifting global dynamics, strengthening trust and cooperation among Trans-Himalayan nations has become more critical.

Countries linked by shared geography and culture face common challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, water security, and sustainable development. The forum aims to leverage digital tools and academic dialogue to promote practical solutions and strengthen regional stability.

The event brought together over 150 scholars and practitioners from nine countries, including China, Nepal, the US, India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Japan, with more than 60 academic papers submitted.

The event’s timing, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of China–Nepal and the 75th anniversary of China–India diplomatic relations, stressed on its broader historical and regional relevance.

During the program, Professor Manukonda Rabindranath of Jawaharlal Nehru University (India) discussed AI-driven fact-checking tools, while Bhutan’s Dawa Penjor introduced the “Gelephu Mindfulness City” model. Professor Chen Changfeng of Tsinghua University examined how algorithms are reshaping societal cognition.

Women’s empowerment emerged as a key theme, with India’s Deepika Pant highlighting the resilience of Pahari women amid social and environmental transformations. Kangba TV host Qimi Wengmu emphasized the media’s vital role in amplifying women’s voices and promoting intercultural understanding.

Meanwhile, experts emphasized the need for deeper integration.

Professor Taibur Rahman (University of Dhaka) illustrated synergies among Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, and Nepal through case studies. Japanese photojournalist Hiroyuki Torii demonstrated visual storytelling’s power in bridging cultures, while Pakistan’s Professor Abida Ashraf advocated for enhanced media industry cooperation .

The Vice-Chancellor of Tribhuvan University emphasized the importance of evidence-based academic exchanges in the context of ongoing geopolitical shifts.

Professor Ding Huang, Dean of UESTC’s School of Public Administration, noted, “This forum serves as a digital bridge to share knowledge and tackle common challenges”.

Professor Han Hong, Director of the Center for Trans-Himalayan Communication Research, proposed a “Seven-Point Initiative” to consolidate consensus during the sessions.