The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) organized a two-day review workshop with members of the COVID-19 Expert Group Committee in order to review and update the guidelines and protocols related to COVID-19 response in the country. The workshop was supported by WHO, Country Office for Nepal.
High-level officials from the MoHP including the Health Secretary, Chief Specialist, and Director of Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) participated in the workshop.
Participants during the program - Review Workshop on COVID-19 Response Guidelines/Protocols.
On 15 September, the MoHP formed a High-level Expert Group Committee consisting of 19 members, including one member from WHO and led by Chief Specialist, with the mandates to review and update the existing COVID- 19 response guidelines and protocols based on global and regional updated guidelines and protocols. Series of in-person and virtual meetings were conducted for this purpose.
Therefore, the committee decided to hold a 2-day residential meeting with WHO support. The residential meeting was held on 21-22 October 2021 with the objective to review and update the existing COVID-19 Response Guidelines and Protocols and submit the report with recommendations to the MoHP.
The participants were divided into four subgroups - Protocols/Guidelines review; COVID-19 Treatment/Management; COVID-19 Treatment Reimbursement; and Public Health Surveillance and Research. Each group presented their recommendations.
Expert members presented, discussed, and shared recommendations during the workshop.
During the 2-day extensive discussion, the subgroups reviewed and updated the essential guidelines/protocols with the following recommendations:
- classify the guidelines and protocols into the following subgroup: Clinical; Infection Prevention, and Control; and Service and Administrative,
- some of the guidelines are not relevant in the present context and need to be removed,
- some of the guidelines/protocols to be kept as it is and do not require any revision or update,
- some of the guidelines/protocols needs to be updated,
- regularly update the guidelines/protocols based on global and regional updates which should be evidence-based, uniform, and disseminated to the local level,
- assurance of proper data handling and quality data management and regular data monitoring in all private and government sectors.
The updated/revised document, with all recommendations, was handed over to the Health Secretary.
Participants updated the guidelines/protocols with the latest global and regional updates.
The expert committee members stressed the importance of data management in strengthening the health system, including adopting an evidence-based approach to review the guidelines/protocols.
Participants provided their recommendations during the program - Review Workshop on COVID-19 Response Guidelines/Protocols.
The program ended with Walk the Talk program, an initiative of WHO to promote physical activity to combat noncommunicable diseases. All members including the Health Secretary participated in the Walk the Talk program.