Kathmandu, Jan 29: Minster of Health and Population Mohan Bahadur Basnet said that it will be difficult to find doctors in Nepal in the coming five years. 

Addressing the 28th anniversary of the Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre on Monday, Minister Basnet said that in his view, the situation of not finding doctors and nurses will occur in the upcoming five years. 

According to him, there are some loose aspects of the Education Act in Nepal. He expressed that there is a need to move ahead by overcoming all the weaknesses. In addition,  there must be an apt ratio in the number of health workers as per the increasing population.  

Informing that there are not enough employment opportunities, Minister Basnet said that it is difficult to provide quality basic health services in Nepal as quality manpower will be lacking. 

“In the next five years, there will be such a situation where it will be difficult to find doctors and nurses in the country. Surely, some things are lacking in the Education Act, and we need to move forward by overcoming such weaknesses. As the population is increasing, the need for health workers will increase,” he said.

“Many health workers are leaving because of getting inadequate services on one hand and the other hand, even if some chose to stay in the country then they are facing difficulties in maintaining a standard livelihood and also, not getting enough opportunities.  This has rendered in no having apt health workers in the country which is making it difficult to deliver health services,” said Minister Basnet.