Global health

Professor Simon Rushton, from the University of Sheffield, has carried out research into Nepal's health system which he now plans to extend with a Changing Policy and Practice (CPP) Award.

Although healthcare in Nepal has improved in recent years, Nepal’s health system continues to suffer from under-investment, resulting in poor overall health outcomes, high levels of inequality, and a lack of access to quality healthcare - especially in rural areas.

In 2015, Nepal introduced a new constitution which changed the way its health system is run - more responsibility for health services were given to provincial and local governments.

Since 2019, Professor Rushton's Nepal Federal Health System Project has been tracking how these changes have affected healthcare. The team has worked with health system stakeholders, from frontline staff to Federal government officials, to develop policy and practice recommendations and training packages.

One of the team's key findings was that many local governments need more support to plan and manage health services - including the procurement and management of medicines and other essential supplies.

To address this, the project will collaborate with provincial and local governments to develop and pilot practical training and mentoring for local government staff. By helping local teams build the skills to manage health services, the project aims to achieve a long-term positive impact on the functioning of healthcare facilities across Nepal.