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Kathmandu, Bagmati province - The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) and WHO Country Office for Nepal observed Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day with the participation of dignitaries from the MoHP, including Honorable Minister of Health and Population Pradip Paudel, officials from various MoHP departments, development partners, associations and the media. Commemorated under the theme "Health: It's on the Government," the event emphasized the critical role of government in ensuring access to affordable quality health services through financial protection and adequate investment to accelerate UHC. The programme featured informative presentations, highlighting Nepal's current progress, challenges and strategic directions toward achieving UHC, specifically focusing on strengthening comprehensive primary health care services, multisectoral engagement, effective policy implementation and efficient use of resources to meet UHC goals.
During the event, Honorable Minister Paudel urged to ensure affordable health-care services, revisiting social security schemes, standardizing medicine pricing, and re-organizing development and distribution of primary healthcare facilities. He shared government commitments for citizens' health so that no one is pushed into poverty due to health expenditure.
Dr Kenza Bennani, Acting WHO Representative to Nepal, congratulated the Government of Nepal on significant improvements in the health sector and its commitment to achieving UHC. She emphasized addressing the changing patterns of public health issues, expanding sustainable health insurance coverage, strengthening comprehensive primary healthcare and sustaining public health gains for UHC.