Nepalese Health Policies: Some Observations from an Economic Development Perspective

Abstract

There is a strong positive relationship between health of the people and sustained economic development of a nation. Given its importance for sustained economic development, the Nepalese health policies are examined through the perspective of the various development plans which suggests that enunciation of clear health objectives have only recently occurred starting from the fifth development plan. However, this contrasts with the empirical observations which suggest that Nepalese public health expenditure over the last decade has had limited direct impact on the health sector outcomes; this observation for Nepal is based on analysis from an input-output model, examination of extension of health facility and through results of an indicative regression. The paper ends with some policy recommendations to Nepalese health policies, based on the empirical analysis, to facilitate the nation’s health to play its important role in economic development.