KATHMANDU, April 8: Secretary at Ministry of Health and Population Dr Roshan Pokhrel has admitted failure to take public awareness programs at local level.
During a program organized on the occasion of World Health Day here Sunday, Secretary Dr Pokhrel viewed, "We've not been able to fan out programs that are aimed at making people aware of health problems and services. Now onwards, we're planning to inform the public on basic health services."
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Nepal representative of World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav, viewed informed lifestyle on health and behavior would help us live a healthy life.
Although Nepal has mentioned health service in its fundamental rights, there is a lot to do to realize it.
On the occasion, Director General at Health Service Department, Dr Sangita Kaushal Mishra, said activities could be forwarded in a way they would ensure everyone's equitable access to health services.
Similarly, Chief of Policy, Planning and Monitoring Division, Dr Krishna Prasad Paudel, also said they were unable to deliver all free health services. "Basic hospitals were not expanded as per expectation. Nepal's coverage on universal access to quality health service is 54 percent, which actually had to be reached 80 percent," he shared.
Dr Paudel underlined the need for effective implementation of health insurance and further initiatives on non-communicable and mental diseases.