Dr Sudha Sharma Gautam, Honorable Minister of Health and Population
Senior government officials
Partners from development organizations and civil society organizations
Distinguished participants, colleagues and friends
Good morning.
It is a pleasure to be here in Nepal on my first country visit in this role, and to join you as Nepal takes another important step to strengthen health security.
We all know that health emergencies are never only health issues. They affect national security, the economy, social stability, education, travel — everything. COVID-19 showed this clearly. That is why health security cannot sit with one ministry alone. It is a responsibility shared across government and across society.
Globally, our common foundation is the International Health Regulations, updated again in 2024. The IHR is a global promise: that every country will build and maintain the capacities needed to prevent, detect and respond to health threats.
Nepal has taken this commitment seriously. The country has shown again and again that adversity can build strength.
After the 2015 earthquakes, Nepal invested heavily in preparedness. Working with WHO and partners, it established Health Emergency Operations Centres across the country, and the Hub and Satellite Hospital Network to improve coordination between hospitals. These systems proved essential during COVID-19 and later emergencies, including the 2023 earthquake.
Nepal also made the bold decision to conduct a Joint External Evaluation in 2022 — only shortly after the pandemic — and was one of the first countries to use the updated JEE tool. In doing so, Nepal demonstrated a clear commitment to evidence-based strengthening of health security and offered a model of leadership for the South-East Asia Region and beyond. The JEE identified both strengths to sustain and gaps to address. These insights now form the evidence base for the National Action Plan for Health Security — and for the work you are doing in this workshop.
The NAPHS is a country-led, multi-year plan. It brings together all sectors, reflects One Health principles, and covers all hazards. A strong NAPHS means Nepal is not only reacting to crises but embedding readiness in long-term health system strengthening and national development.
It also connects national and global frameworks: the IHR, the Pandemic Agreement, and WHO’s Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience framework. And it aligns with our Region’s Strategic Roadmap for 2023–2027.
But the real test — and the real opportunity — lies in implementation.
Once finalized, the NAPHS must be endorsed at the highest levels and fully integrated into national planning and budgeting. Success will depend on coordinated multisectoral action, strong monitoring and accountability, and realistic financing that brings together domestic and external resources. Only with effective implementation will the NAPHS translate evidence into stronger systems and real protection for people.
Nepal has already shown strong leadership. We are confident this will continue.
WHO remains a committed partner. We will support you technically, help convene partners and promote collaboration across all sectors.
We are proud to accompany Nepal on this journey toward greater preparedness and resilience. Together, we can build a stronger and safer South-East Asia.
Thank you.