Health Ministry Secretary Emphasizes Bridging Policy-Implementation Gap

Kathmandu. Secretary at the Ministry of Health and Population, Dr. Bikash Devkota, has stated that it is essential to bridge the gap between policy formulation and implementation. Addressing the closing ceremony of the 'National Summit of Health and Population Scientists' organized by the Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC), Secretary Devkota emphasized the need to focus on the execution of policies.

He noted that as the country moves toward a phase of stability, there is an opportunity to implement a system based on new thinking. He asserted that improvements in healthcare are only possible through evidence-based decision-making. He stressed the importance of formulating policies linked to good governance and focusing on service delivery through their implementation. Stating that change begins with small actions, he urged individuals to first improve their own behavior. He also suggested that the Council should be made more effective and expanded nationwide, noting that the structure of the Council, which coordinates research, implementation, and monitoring, needs to be further strengthened.

Highlighting the increasing participation of youth in research, he suggested that more attention should be paid to service expansion. He expressed confidence that future research should be aligned with the government's 100-point roadmap and the summit's declaration, which could lead to concrete improvements in the quality of healthcare services.

He said, 'We are in a different situation now; the country is moving toward stability. There are new things, we have done a lot of work and reviewed it. Now, since a system with new thinking has emerged on how to proceed, we must build facts based on that. The NHRC is doing well, and good work is being done every year with your involvement. However, I want to focus on the fact that an institution with such a huge responsibility—which handles research, implementation, and monitoring—should be expanded more across the provinces.'

He further added, 'Many young people are currently working on research. I feel we should pay more attention to service expansion. While we should have big ideas and thoughts for change, the start must be small. First and foremost, we need to change our own behavior. Future research should be based on the government's 100-point roadmap and the declaration of this summit; if we do that, we can improve our services.'

He urged the Council to formulate the upcoming year's budget and policy programs based on the government's 100-point roadmap and the summit's declaration.