If the Ministry of Health and Population has its way, the country will have eight doctors per 100,000 people, twice the existing four at present, by 2015.

In its final draft of the Human Resource Strategy, the ministry states its plan to increase human resource in the health sector over the next four years. The MoHP has been discussing with the Ministry of Finance about increasing its current pool of staff—which stands at 4,743, including doctors, nurses and others—by the end of this year.

“Initially, the staff will be hired on contract basis as the posts are subject to approval,” said Kabi Raj Khanal, under-secretary at the MoHP. Alongside the recruitment of doctors, the MoHP will hire an additional 8,690 nurses by 2015.

If the ambitious plan gets the Finance Ministry nod, the country will have 54 nurses per 100,000 people, which at present stands at around 23 per unit.

According to the WHO, at least 2.23 health professionals are needed per 1,000 people for providing adequate health care services.

As per the strategy, the 479 posts of MBBS doctor are proposed. Three doctors will be deployed in each of the 13 central hospitals, two doctors for each of the 15 regional/zonal hospitals, two for each of the 65 district hospitals, two each for 20 rural hospitals, and one doctor each for 240 Primary Health Centres. Also, one post of BDS doctor has been proposed for each of the 15 regional/zonal hospitals and 65 district-level hospitals.

In case of nurse, 8,690 posts have been proposed. Some 20 nurses will be deployed for each of the 13 central hospitals, two nurses for each of the 1,204 Health Posts (with birth centres), two nurses for each of the 2,636 upgraded Sub-health Posts, one each for 240 Primary Health Care Centres, three each for 20 rural hospitals, four each for 65 district hospitals, 10 each for 11 zonal hospitals, 20 each for four regional hospitals, and one each for upgraded Sub-health Posts.

Along with doctors and nurses, the government has also planned to hire 3,536 health assistants, 435 lab technicians, 355 radiographers, 141 anaesthesia assistants, 28 physiotherapy assistants, 65 ophthalmic assistants and 28 psychiatrists by 2015.

The MoHP, at present, has around 1,100 posts of doctors, 4,251 posts of pubic health officials, 782 seats of indigenous health professionals and 6,540 positions of nursing staff. Also, 7,588 posts of paramedic and allied health professionals and 7,063 seats of admin staff exist.

source: The Kathmandu Post,17 March 2012