Nepal Health Insurance Bill: Possible Challenges and Way Forwards

Nepal has one of the highest proportions of out of pocket expenditures on health and one quarter of the people is living below poverty line. In recent time, there is some increase of the health budget but country still relies on development partners. The endorsement of the national health insurance bill has enabled government to establish the national health insurance scheme through development of adequate policies, strategies and mechanisms for implementation at national and federal level. The scheme has many challenges to address on governance and leadership, financing, information, health services, workforce, and essential medicines and technologies. Therefore, it is imperative to establish a robust mechanism like a ‘tree’, which has strong roots of building blocks of health systems, which produces fruits that ensure improved responsiveness, efficiency and equity and financial protection. It is necessary to learn and apply from the experiences of other countries while implementing the national health insurance scheme.