Nepal’s health worker shortage is driving doctor-patient conflict
Summary
Nepal faces a severe shortage of health workers in primary care, causing doctors to be overstretched and fueling escalating conflicts with patients, including violent attacks.
Key Points
- Nepal’s primary health care centres mostly have only one doctor responsible for multiple services, causing overwork.
- Chronic shortage of health workers due to government failure to create permanent posts leads to growing doctor-patient conflicts.
- A recent assault on a doctor at Narayani Hospital highlights the risks faced by health workers due to understaffing and patient frustration.
- The government has approved 977 new permanent doctor posts in 2024, but recruitment will take time, and current shortages remain critical.
