Digital Health Gap and Response Matrix
Since the past decade, healthcare has been a key priority for successive Nepal governments, with public and private healthcare spending increasing considerably year on year. Total healthcare expenditure in Nepal as a percentage of GDP grew from 4% in 2006 to exceed 6% in 2015, comparatively higher than its neighbors such as India, Pakistan, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka with healthcare spending at 2.6% and 4.7% of GDP.
The rise in healthcare expenditure and continued focus by the government in enhancing healthcare policies and infrastructure have enabled Nepal to achieve vast improvements in its healthcare KPIs in the past 20 years. For example, neonatal and child mortality rates have declined significantly since 1995. Moreover, Nepal’s consistent track record in improving other health outcomes such as maternal mortality, death rates, and life expectancy is acknowledged internationally.
There are two major national programs under Digital Health Program:
1. Digital Nepal Framework (Health Sector)
2. e-Health Implementation Roadmap
e-Health is under review process: Following are the review process:
i. Review Framework
ii. Review of e-Health
iii. Gap identification
iv. Recommendation Framework
v. Recommendations