Geographical Constraints
Much of rural Nepal is located on hilly or mountainous regions. The rugged terrian and the lack of proper infrastructure makes it highly inaccessible, limiting the availability of basic health care In many villages the only mode of transportation is by foot. This results in a delay of treatment, which can be detrimental to patients in need of immediate medical attention. Most of Nepal’s health care facilities are concentrated in urban areas. Rural health facilities often lack adequate funding. In 2003, Nepal had 10 health centers, 83 hospitals, 700 health posts, and 3,158 “sub-health posts,” which serve villages. In addition, there were 1,259 physicians, one for every 18,400 persons. In 2000 government funding for health matters was approximately US$2.30 per person, and approximately 70 percent of health expenditures came from out-of-pocket contributions. Government allocations for health were around 5.1 percent of the budget for fiscal year 2004, and foreign donors provided around 30 percent of the total budget for health expenditures.
Read more about this topic: Healthcare In Nepal
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