Basic health services
The Himalayan Times
2 February 2017
Basic
health services
It
was encouraging to know that 62 percent of health centres offer basic health
services related to child health, family planning and antenatal care. It was
revealed by Nepal Health Facility survey 2015 report “62 per cent health centres
offer basic facilities” (THT, 31 Jan. Page2). This can be taken as great leap forward
of the government towards improvement of local health delivery system. However,
it has still a long way to go to provide other basic health services from its
VDC level health posts throughout the country. Most of these health posts,
especially in the rural areas, are not properly equipped with appropriate
equipments, adequate supplies and other physical facilities. Not all these
health facilities have also proper pro-client latrines and drinking water
system.
Medicines
supplied by the government to these health facilities hardly last six
months. Unless the government improves
its medicine supply system to these health facilities, people will continue to
suffer in the coming days. They have been made compelled to buy medicines from
private clinics in inflated price. Lack of trained health staffs in the remote
rural areas has hampered the delivery of quality health services. This problem
has been going on since long. The government has totally failed to address this
issue. Credit should be given to the private health institutions for producing
more health workers who, however, hesitate to go out in the rural areas and
serve the people. The government should find out appropriate alternatives to
lure the health staffs to go out to the rural areas and provide basic health
services to the needy.
According
to the survey report, not all the health facilities have all the basic
amenities which are needed to provide basic health services. It is said that
the local health delivery system in Nepal is one of the best among other Asian
countries. However, due to lack of proper monitoring and supervision, quality services
to the people are still questionable. Access to basic health services is the
right of every citizen of Nepal.
Rai Biren Bangdel
Maharajgunj, Kathmandu
