Patient safety and health care regulatory system in Nepal

Abstract

The  healthcare regulations aims to address social problems, protect patient safety as well as deliver quality care impartially. However, the fragmented regulatory system in Nepal poses significant barriers to building a strong patient safety culture. Globally, countries such as Canada, Australia, Sweden, Thailand and the Philippines have established comprehensive systems defined by centralized leadership, adverse event reporting mechanisms as well as inclusive policy-making processes directed towards promoting patient safety. Overburdened practitiners, scarce resources, poor communication, and the lack of standard operating procedures are some of the challenges Nepal faces. Regulatory bodies such as the Professional Councils and Ministry of Health and Population function without appropriate coordination or incident reporting system; hence, as a result, progress is delayed. The lessons learned from international experience highlights the need for an integrated patient safety framework and a central statutory authority . This would need infrastructure investments, professional development, and transparency in reporting systems at the national level. With these reforms, Nepal can create a strong and unified healthcare system focussed on patient safety and public well-being.