Public Health Systems - Challenges and Opportunities: The Case of Nepal

This course has been accredited by tropEd Network for Higher Education Institutions in International Health.

The course provides an in-depth introduction to the public health system in Nepal, examining its structure, challenges, and innovations within a resource-constrained setting. Participants will explore key health issues from both the supply and demand sides, and analyze public health interventions aimed at addressing these problems. Special attention is given to the socio-cultural factors influencing health behaviors and care-seeking in Nepal. Through comparative analysis with other health systems globally, the course equips learners to assess challenges, identify information sources, and propose context-appropriate solutions for improving health outcomes in low-resource environments.

• An overview of the Public Health delivery system in Nepal
• Comparison of health care systems in different resource settings
• Health related challenges from supply side and demand side
• Public health interventions to address health problems
• Socio-cultural determinants of health care seeking behaviour in Nepal

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• describe the health care delivery system in Nepal,

• identify major sources of health-related information,
• explain major health problems including challenges and opportunities to address these problems,
• identify socio-cultural aspects of care seeking, service delivery and health behaviors,
• identify innovations and initiatives to address health problems both from supply side and demand side,
• compare problems and challenges of health care systems in developed and developing countries, and
• assess and discuss possible health system solutions in a resource-constrained system.

Public health professionals, epidemiologists, researchers, health policy planners, and health allied professionals interested in health system research and public health interventions.

Registration is TBA

From February 24th to 28th, 2025, we had the pleasure of hosting the Advanced Module in Health Geographic Information Systems (Health GIS), an intensive course designed to equip participants with advanced spatial analysis skills for health research and public health applications. This year, 12 participants took part in the module, including three external students from other TropEd institutions, fostering a diverse and enriching learning environment.

The course was led by Daniela Koller and Daniela Gessell, with additional support from Dinesh Timalsena, who guided participants through practical applications of GIS in health contexts. Through hands-on exercises, case studies, and interactive discussions, participants explored techniques for spatial data analysis, mapping, and the integration of geographic data into health research and decision-making.

The module was a great success, with participants praising both the content and teaching approach. Many highlighted the practical relevance of the course and its immediate applicability to their work. We are delighted by the positive feedback and remain committed to providing high-quality training in Health GIS to support global health research and policy.