Nepal Chapter of the Lancet Commission on Investing in Health (Nepal CIH) Launched

The Nepal Health Economics Association (NHEA) hosted the Secretariat of the newly launched Nepal Chapter of the Lancet Commission on Investing in Health (Nepal CIH) for a launch event in Kathmandu, Nepal, on August 29, 2025. The Lancet Commission on Investing in Health includes several BCEPS staff members and affiliated researchers.

More than 80 policymakers, researchers, and healthcare professionals attended the launch event, including Nepal's Minister for Health and Population, Pradip Paudel, who emphasized the government's responsibility to provide free basic health services and affordable specialized care. 

The Nepal CIH will work to identify gaps in health financing, out-of-pocket spending, and resource efficiency in order to support evidence-based policy decision-making. 

Experts who spoke at the launch event include Yogesh Bhattarai (Member of Parliament), Shiva Adhikari (Vice-Chair of the National Planning Commission and Chair of Nepal CIH), Ole Frithjof Norheim (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health professor, BCEPS adjunct researcher, and CIH Commissioner), David Watkins (University of Washington professor and CIH Commissioner), Krishna Aryal (BCEPS Senior Researcher/Nepal Team Lead and Nepal CIH Coordinator), Bikash Devkota (Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Population), and Sumanraj Aryal (Secretary of the National Planning Commission). 

The speakers highlighted an urgent need for evidence-based, equitable, and cost-effective health financing reforms to achieve universal health coverage in Nepal. In addition, experts noted that investing in health is not only a moral obligation but also a driver of economic growth, including in Nepal.