16/12/2025
The International Conference on Health Economics successfully concluded on December 12, 2025, in Kathmandu, marking an important step forward in Nepal’s journey toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The conference was organized by the Nepal Health Economics Association (NHEA) in coordination with the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) under the theme "Health Economics for Policy" in partnership with Bergen Centre for Ethics and Priority Setting in Health (BCEPS), University of Bergen (UiB), GIZ, P4H, HERD International and Kathmandu University. The two-day gatheirng brought together around 200 policymakers, researchers, health professionals, and national and international experts. Held under the theme “Health Economics for Policy,” the conference focused on how economic evidence can support smarter health spending and stronger health systems in Nepal.
Throughout the conference, leaders and experts strongly emphasized that investing wisely in health is essential for economic growth and social development. Finance Minister Rameshore Prasad Khanal highlighted that health spending should be seen as an investment, as healthy people are more productive and contribute to economic growth. Minister for MoHP Dr. Sudha Gautam called on the need for evidence-based decision-making and preventive health measures that can reduce long-term costs and improve population health outcomes. MoHP Secretary Dr. Bikash Devkota stressed that the growing burden of non-communicable diseases requires action beyond traditional health-sector boundaries.
The conference also addressed key challenges facing Nepal’s health system, including fragmented health financing, the growing burden of non-communicable diseases, and the need for clear priority setting. NHEA President Prof. Dr. Shiva Raj Adhikari noted that poor allocation of resources can result in low-impact services crowding out essential and high-priority interventions, ultimately affecting health outcomes. Chief of the MoHP’s Policy Planning and Monitoring Division, Dr. Krishna Prasad Paudel, also addressing the opening plenary session, presented an overview of Nepal’s health financing landscape and stressed the need for prioritizing health interventions.
In the first plenary session titled “Progress towards UHC: Where we are in protecting people and households from financial risk,” Anna Koziel and Ajay Tandon of the World Bank shared insights on the role of data and analytics in strengthening health systems and presented highlights from the UHC Global Monitoring Report 2024, with specific reference to financial hardship in Nepal.
Similarly, Manit Sittimart of the Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program Foundation discussed Thailand’s journey toward UHC and reflected on lessons learned from a researcher’s perspective.
Prof. Kjell Arne Johansson of UiB’s BCEPS spoke about evidence and value informed priority setting, emphasizing fair processes and fair outcomes on the path to UHC. The first day of the conference concluded with two parallel technical sessions on “Policy Instruments and Budget Analysis” and “Health Systems and Wider Determinants of Health” at the end.
The second day of the conference featured rich and forward-looking discussions. The third plenary session included a panel discussion on “Towards Sustainable UHC: Fixing Fragmentation and Strengthening Nepal’s Social Health Security System.” Moderated by Dr. Sushil Baral of HERD International, the panel brought together Dr. Krishna Prasad Poudel, Chief of the Policy, Planning and Monitoring Division at the Ministry of Health and Population; Mahesh Acharya, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Finance; and international experts Dr. Subash Pyakurel and Dr. Bernd Appelt from Germany. The panelists shared practical insights on addressing system fragmentation and strengthening Nepal’s social health security system to ensure long-term sustainability.
The second day also included two parallel technical sessions on “Cost, cost-effectiveness and equity in health” and “Financial hardship and financial risk protection.” These sessions highlighted how better use of data and economic evidence can help protect households from financial burden while ensuring fair and efficient use of health resources.
Another major highlight of the final day was the fourth plenary session on “Spending Wisely in Health: Redesigning the Health Financing Architecture of Nepal.” This session focused on the need for coordinated financing mechanisms and smarter spending to strengthen Nepal’s health system and accelerate progress toward UHC.
The conference concluded with a shared commitment to continued collaboration among policymakers, researchers, and partners.
NHEA sincerely thanks all speakers, panelists, participants, partners, and supporters for making this conference a success. The discussions and ideas shared over these two days will continue to inspire evidence-based action toward a more equitable, efficient, and sustainable health system for Nepal.
Bergen Centre for Ethics and Priority Setting in Health - BCEPS Norad Ministry of Health and Population-Nepal World Bank Nepal World Health Organization Nepal
