Healthcare in Nepal

Healthcare In Nepal

Health care services in Nepal are provided by both the public and private sector and fares poorly by international standards. Based on WHO data, Nepal ranked 139 in life expectancy in 2010 with the average Nepalese living to 65.8 years. Disease prevalence is higher in Nepal than it is in other South Asian countries, especially in rural areas. Leading diseases and illnesses include diarrhea, gastrointestinal disorders, goiter, intestinal parasites, leprosy, and tuberculosis, visceral leishmaniasis and tuberculosis. According to United Nations data for 2003, approximately 60,000 persons aged 15 to 49 had human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and the HIV prevalence rate was 0.5%. In spite of these figures, some improvements in health care have been made, most notably its significant progress in maternal-child health. For example, Nepal’s Human Development Index (HDI) was 0.504 in 2002, ranking Nepal 140 out of 177 countries, up from 0.291 in 1975. Other improvements include:

  • Mortality rate during childbirth: From 850 in 100,00 mothers in 1990 to 280 in 2011
  • Under-five infant mortality: From 162 per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 50 in 2011
  • Child malnutrition: From 72% in 2001 to 38.8% in 2009
  • Human Development Index (HDI): From 0.291 in 1975 to 0.428 in 2010, ranking Nepal 141 out of 172 countries
Health Indicators
Population growth 1.28
Life expectancy 67
Infant mortality 39
Fertility 2.64
Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2009) 69
Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2009) 5.8

Read more about Healthcare In Nepal:  Contents, Health Care Expenditure, Health Care Infrastructure, Maternal and Child Health Care, Geographical Constraints, Political Influences On Health Care