Nepal Faces Severe Shortage of Cardiac Specialists Amid Rising Heart Disease Cases
Summary
Nepal faces a severe shortage of cardiac specialists with only 141 registered heart disease specialists while heart disease cases rise rapidly across the country.
Key Points
- Nepal has only 141 registered heart disease specialists among 13,034 specialist doctors, highlighting a severe shortage amid rising heart disease cases.
- Approximately 80,000 heart surgeries should be performed annually in Nepal, but only about 2,000 to 2,500 are currently done.
- Heart disease accounts for a growing proportion of deaths worldwide and is becoming the leading cause of death in Nepal linked to lifestyle changes and stress.
- Specialists recommend heart check-ups start after age 30 due to increasing cardiovascular risk and emphasize establishing heart centers in every province for better access.
