Public health experts are expressing frustration over the delay in implementing necessary reforms in the health sector. During a recent policy dialogue on health reform, it was noted that the health ministry took approximately three months to initiate actions based on the recommendations of the Health Sector Reform Commission. This unexplained delay has raised concerns about the interim administration’s dedication to health reform compared to other key sectors.
Established on November 18, 2024, the commission submitted its report on May 5, outlining various suggestions such as making primary healthcare a constitutional requirement and establishing an independent commission to oversee the health sector. The report also proposed the creation of an influential inter-ministerial committee to execute the recommended reforms. Following the report submission, the chief adviser instructed relevant authorities to promptly address the “actionable recommendations.”
Despite the directive, the concerned authorities procrastinated for three months without visible progress in implementing the recommendations. The formation of the inter-ministerial committee is still pending, leading to discontent among commission members who question the purpose of the exercise if health sector reform continues to be neglected. The extensive effort invested by the commission in identifying health sector issues and providing solutions makes their disappointment understandable.
Speakers at the policy dialogue also highlighted the repetitive pattern of shelving policy recommendations, a concern shared by many. To address this issue, experts recommended establishing a high-powered task force to facilitate the implementation process and creating a civil society platform to refine reform priorities and engage major political parties in enhancing the healthcare system.
However, these efforts will be futile if the government does not prioritize health reform genuinely. The health ministry has scheduled the first meeting on August 6 to review and analyze the commission’s report, followed by devising a short-term action plan for implementation. Concrete decisions are anticipated from this meeting to initiate the long-overdue overhaul of the sector. Patients have endured inadequate healthcare access, insufficient trained staff, high out-of-pocket expenses, and systemic corruption for too long, underscoring the urgency for sector improvement.