An international research team led by the University of Sheffield is helping to strengthen Nepal’s health system and improve healthcare for communities across the country.
Since 2019, Professor Simon Rushton, from the School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations, has been working with colleagues in the UK and Nepal to understand how the country’s transition to a federal system of government has shaped the delivery of health services.
The project brings together UK researchers from the University of Sheffield, Canterbury Christ Church University, Bournemouth University, the University of Huddersfield, the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the University of Greenwich, working in partnership with PHASE Nepal and the Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences. It is supported by the Health System Research Initiative, the Medical Research Foundation, and Knowledge Exchange funding from the University of Sheffield.
Taking a participatory approach, the team has worked closely with government officials and health workers at all levels to explore the impact of devolution on healthcare. Their findings have led to a series of policy recommendations and practical interventions to strengthen the health system.
One key focus has been supporting Nepal’s Health Facility Operation and Management Committees (HFOMCs). These committees, which bring together local government representatives, healthcare staff and community members, are responsible for overseeing every health facility in the country. However, the team’s research revealed that many committees were struggling to operate effectively, undermining the planning and delivery of frontline healthcare.
To address this, the researchers partnered with local and provincial governments to co-design and deliver a training package for HFOMC members. The programme equips committee members with the skills to analyse health data, plan budgets, and monitor service standards.
So far, more than 500 committee members from across four of Nepal’s seven provinces have completed the training. A "train-the-trainer" model has also been introduced, enabling 80 local Health Coordinators to continue delivering training and embed long-term improvements.
Professor Simon Rushton said: “This project really shows the power of co-production and international collaboration to make a real difference to the healthcare people receive. Working so closely with health system stakeholders meant we could identify the issues that really mattered, and work together to strengthen services across the country. Our partners at PHASE Nepal and the Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences have been absolutely crucial to ensuring the training is both effective and sustainable.”
You can learn more about the project and access publications at: www.nepalfederalhealthsystem.com