In 2081, the health sector had to bear the impact of some achievements, controversies and cuts in foreign aid grants. Along with the discussion of health insurance, the issue of appointing the health secretary to the junior by leaving aside the senior was seen as a controversy. The availability of the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine used against cervical cancer and the arson of a herbal company have been discussed this year.

Due to the large damage to the physical infrastructure during the performance of Purvaraja Sarmthak, the situation has come to a halt in the production of medicines. On the other hand, when foreign aid was stopped, women and children in poor villages were affected by basic health services. Despite these discomforts, the health sector has achieved some achievements this year.

About 1.7 million girls got HPV vaccine
The Ministry of Health and Population has informed that the campaign of 'HPV vaccine' against cervical cancer will be included in the regular schedule from next year. This is a significant achievement this year . The ministry conducted an HPV vaccination campaign from January 22 to February 6. About 1.7 lakh girls have benefited from this campaign. 

It is the first cancer in women in Nepal and the fourth in the world . Every day in Nepal, four women die of cervical cancer.

The path shown by the health insurance report
Even though the government has started a health insurance program to bring standard health services to the people, questions about its sustainability continue to be raised at various times. Experts say that health insurance problems will continue to grow if the structure and functioning of the health insurance board cannot be brought in.

In 10 years after the implementation of health insurance, only 20 percent of citizens are covered by it . The recently released Health Insurance Reform Recommendations Task Force report shows many ways to improve the health insurance program. 

Due to the fact that there is no condition to cover the current facility bag in the event of a fatal illness, the facility bag is at least  It has been suggested that it should be increased to five lakhs. Restructuring and renaming of health insurance, fully automating the board through the use of modern information system, and widening the scope of benefit packages are mentioned in the report of the task force.

It is said that the public will be included in the health insurance and government employees and workers in the organized sector will be included in the health insurance by decision of the government. Recently, Dr. Raghuraj Kafle and Chandra Bahadur Thapa Chhetri have been appointed as the executive director of the board. It can be expected from them that there will be significant improvement in the insurance sector .

Mandatory 100% deadly pictures instead of tobacco products
The Ministry of Health and Population has introduced a rule that mandatory 100% deadly pictures should be printed instead of tobacco products from next August 1. . 

Amending the provision to print warning messages in 90 percent of the previous parts, by approving the 'Guidelines for printing and marking warning messages and pictures on tobacco products, packets, wrappers, boxes and parcels, packaging, 2081', it has been arranged that the production, sale and purchase of tobacco products that do not have warning messages and dangerous colored pictures cannot be made.

Medicines for children against cancer
Nepal has received three types of essential medicines for one year to treat cancer in children under the 'Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines'. In children  Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital, Kanti Children's Hospital, Patan Institute of Health Sciences and Bharatpur Cancer Hospital have made those medicines available for the treatment of cancer. According to the

agreement, for the next five years (from 2025 to 2030), Cancer Medicines will provide 35 types of essential drugs for free. About 1,500 children are diagnosed with cancer in Nepal every year.

distribution of medicine for paralysis
The government is going to provide free treatment to citizens with cerebral palsy (brainstroke). With the support of the American charitable organization "Direct Relief" and the facilitation of Nepal's "One Heart Worldwide", medicine will be provided to cerebral palsy patients with free treatment. The Ministry of Health and Population has stated that medicine will be available at Veer Hospital, Trivi Teaching Hospital and Bharatpur Hospital in the initial phase. 

Free treatment for burn victims
The government has decided to provide free treatment for burn victims. All non-cosmetic irritation related problems are treated free of charge. 

GMP certificate for Nepal Aushadhi Limited
Nepal Aushadhi Limited has received the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certificate according to the standards of the World Health Organization. Limited after fulfilling all the criteria, after five decades of its establishment, it received the certificate of international recognition from the Department of Drug Administration . With the receipt of the certificate, the way has been paved for the company to sell medicine, export abroad and participate in international tenders . 

Currently, the company is producing 14 types of medicines under Oral Rehydration Salt (ORS), Tablets and Hemoglobin Fluid (Part-1 and 2).

Breast cancer genetic testing
Breast cancer genetic testing (gene sequencing) is now possible at the National Public Health Laboratory. Earlier, samples had to be sent outside the country for the test. This test will determine if breast cancer is likely to be hereditary. Based on this, doctors say that if the treatment can be done in the early stages, the victims of breast cancer can be saved.

The Ministry of Health is second in the semi-annual progress report
The Ministry of Health and Population is in second place in the semi-annual progress report of the institutional milestones. Based on the work progress published by the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Health is ranked third and second among ministries on the basis of the ministry and institutional basis. 

According to public information, it is mentioned that nine of the 11 tasks to be completed by the Ministry of Health have been completed by the end of last December. Based on these progress, the office has awarded 81.8 points to the Ministry of Health. Also, the ministry has received 70 points in the progress status of milestones that must be achieved starting in the current year.

Damage to Herbs Company
On March 15th, supporters of Purvaraja set fire to the Herbs Production and Processing Company Limited in Koteshwar. In addition to damage to the building with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facilities, raw materials, equipment, packaging equipment, furniture, documents and other materials used in the production of medicine were destroyed by the fire.

If the restructuring of the company is not done in time, it is estimated that it will take years to return to its previous state. 

When USAID stops support, the impact on the health sector
This year, the US Aid Agency (USAID) has given a shock to the health sector. After USAID stopped the support, it seems that there will be a long-term impact on the program in the health sector . Programs such as nutrition, vaccination, newborn and maternal and child health, and reproductive health have been seen to be affected. 

In addition, it will also affect the goal of achieving sustainable development by 2030. The American government has been supporting Nepal's health sector with 5 million dollars annually.

Even though experts have been raising voices that at least 10 percent of the total budget should be allocated for the improvement of the health sector in Nepal, this sector has not been prioritized. Dr. Prakash Budhathoki, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Health and Population, said that the lowering of the health budget ceiling is an added challenge and it is also taken as an opportunity. He informed that even though the program was affected when the support of the American agency was stopped, the priority program will continue.

'There is a lack of budget in the health sector . Only 10 percent of the total budget is allocated for this sector. If the budget were to be increased, no one would be deprived of basic health and emergency health services. We are also trying to implement the recommendations of the health insurance report,' he said. He also said that there has been a problem in the work of 396 basic hospitals pending for a long time and a solution will be found as soon as possible.

Health and Population Minister Pradeep Poudel is seen as an active minister. Some have expressed their happiness that they have the zeal to work, while others have suggested that effective measures should be taken with new plans as they have spent time on the continuation of old programs and sloganeering.