Over the past several months the Ministry of Health and Population has been preparing and writing its second five-year Health Sector Programme-Implementation Plan (NHSP-IP 2) 2010-2015.  Preparations for the plan preceded a thorough review of the previous plan. In so doing, the current plan represents a continuation and further refinement of the previous plan to build on past successes, which included the implementation of cost-effective, evidence-based health interventions. The upcoming plan envisions added efforts in the areas of safe motherhood, child health, nutrition, population and family planning.  And, due to a rise in non-communicable diseases and injuries, focuses on communication interventions to change behaviour. 

The plan was prepared through extensive consultations with all stakeholders, including profit and not-for-profit healthcare providers, civil society leaders, health institutions, and donor and I/NGO partners.

The three main objectives in the current five-year plan are to achieve universal coverage of essential health care, while expanding access and utilisation of these services, with a specific focus on health disparities to see improvements in care for the poor and marginalised. Local bodies will be strengthened and more inclusive collaboration with non-state actors will be sought. In addition, an increased emphasis will be put on efficiency and accountability.

With the implementation of this plan, I am confident that Nepal will meet, and maybe even exceed, the targets of the health-related Millennium Development Goals to which it has committed.