NEFPORT ISSUE 49 – JUNE 2022
Health
FACTSHEET Projected life expectancy in 2022
71.45 years247
With COVID-19 infections decreasing significantly, the review period saw government efforts focused on tackling issues in other aspects of the health sector. Over 75% of the population have been vaccinated against COVID-19, yet children aged 5-11 years have been left out of the vaccination drive. Sudden weather changes have increased cases of seasonal diseases. Further efforts have been made in the maternal health sector to reach his year’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). MoHP to Support Production of Medicine at Low Cost The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) is preparing a proposal to support Nepal Drugs Limited in the production of at least 25 essential medicines at a low cost. Currently, Nepal Drug Limited only produces six essential drugs including paracetamol and oral rehydration solutions. This proposal aims to address the issue of the unavailability of essential medicines in government health institutions. The initiative is expected to help in controlling the market price of medicines as well.252 Government Health Insurance Fails to Retain Subscribers Despite the rapid expansion of government health insurance in all 77 districts, only 20% of the total population has subscribed to the scheme. The renewal rate of health insurance is less than 50%.253 The poor public response can be attributed to the quality of health services in healthcare centers affiliated with the scheme which lack medicines, trained healthcare providers,
and medical equipment. Further, the scheme operates as a social security program but is categorised as health insurance, which has confused the nonrefundable premiums when the services are not used.254 Cases of Seasonal Flu and Waterborne Diseases on the Rise Several hospitals and health institutions across the country have reported increased cases of diarrheal diseases, seasonal flu, and fever. In Kathmandu, Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital have seen 15 to 20 patients suffering from diarrheal disease every day, while the number of patients at Kanti Children’s Hospital have increased by five times in the last month. Such cases are also common in remote areas such as in the Humla district where one-fourth of total patients are suffering from diarrheal diseases. This increase in seasonal diseases can be attributed to a rise in temperature, contaminated drinking water, food poisoning, and rising pollution.255
Projected birth rate in 2022
18.705 per 1000 people248 Projected death rate in 2022
6.264 per 1000 people249 Projected Infant Mortality rate in 2022
24.287 per 1000 live births250 Projected fertility rate in 2022
1.826 births per woman251
Possible Delay in COVID-19 Vaccines for Children The deteriorating economic conditions of Nepal evidenced by rising inflation and imports has been delaying the procurement and administration of the COVID-19 vaccine for children aged five to eleven years old. The Cabinet of Ministers had suggested exploring the possibility of securing vaccines via grant assistance and only procuring the shortfall.256 The vaccines through the COVAX scheme are expected to arrive from the last week of June 2022 in several consignments but the scheme is yet to give an official delivery date for these vaccines.257 Administration of COVID-19 Vaccines to be Resumed After Local Elections The government is set to administer over 3 million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines after the local elections on 13 May 2022.258 As the vaccines only have a shelf life of 31 days, the vaccines could go to waste when the uptake is low, which was
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