KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 14
Issuing a joint declaration, participants of a conference on health economics called for stronger investment in health, better use of evidence in policymaking, and improved financial protection for households.
The Kathmandu Declaration on Financing for Universal Health Coverage (UHC), adopted at the end of the two-day conference International Conference on Health Economics in Kathmandu on Friday, called for the urgent need to reform Nepal's health financing and policy systems. The declaration stated that achieving an efficient and equitable health system will require transparent and fair priority-setting processes.
The conference was organized by the Nepal Health Economics Association (NHEA) in coordination with MoHP under the theme "Health Economics for Policy" in partnership with Bergen Centre for Ethics and Priority Setting in Health (BCEPS), University of Bergen (UiB),GIZ, P4H, HERD International and Kathmandu University.
Participants representing development partners, researchers, academics, and civil society called on the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) to institutionalize evidence-based and inclusive approaches when deciding which health services and interventions should be prioritized.
Acknowledging that Nepal faces significant resource constraints in the health sector, especially as the country moves toward graduation from low-income status, the declaration called for increased and sustained investment in health. "We call for proactive strategies to expand fiscal space through effective implementation of health taxes, improved prioritization of domestic resource mobilization, greater budgetary efficiency, and strengthened public financial management," it read.
The declaration also raised concerns about fragmentation in health financing and financial risk pooling, both within and outside the health sector. Stressing that the lack of coordination among existing schemes weakens efficiency and leads to duplication, the declaration called for greater integration and harmonization of these mechanisms to strengthen risk pooling and make the system more effective.
To address the financial burden faced by households, particularly those dealing with non-communicable diseases, the declaration stated, "We call for actions that enhance financial risk protection, including expanding coverage of quality health care services and prioritizing interventions that reduce impoverishment due to health care costs." Conference participants emphasized the need to expand access to quality health services and prioritize interventions that prevent families from being pushed into poverty due to health care costs.
The declaration further underlined the importance of using health economics evidence in the implementation of health policies. It called for closer collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to share knowledge, exchange experiences, and bridge the gap between research findings and real policy action.
Stressing the need to institutionalize health economics within Nepal's health system, participants highlighted the importance of investing in the capacity building of young professionals and researchers to ensure long-term sustainability and stronger policy impact in the future. The Kathmandu Declaration is expected to serve as a guiding framework for future discussions and actions on health financing reforms.
Attended by around 200 national and international participants, the conference was organized to promote dialogue, share practical experiences, and strengthen the role of health economics in shaping the country's health system reforms. The second day of the conference began with the third plenary session, which featured a panel discussion on "Towards Sustainable UHC: Fixing Fragmentation and Strengthening Nepal's Social Health Security System." Moderated by Dr Sushil Baral of HERD International, the panelists - Chief of MoHP's Policy, Planning and Monitoring Division Dr Krishna Prasad Poudel, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Finance Mahesh Acharya, and experts Dr Subash Pyakurel and Dr Bernd Appelt from Germany - shared their insights on addressing fragmentation and strengthening the country's social security system.
As on the first day, the second day also featured two parallel technical sessions on "Cost, cost-effectiveness and equity in health" and "Financial hardship and financial risk protection." Another highlight of the final day was the fourth plenary session on "Spending Wisely in Health: Redesigning the Health Financing Architecture of Nepal."