The healthcare sector in Nepal is plagued by serious issues. Poor patients are exploited by a nexus of doctors, chemists, and hospitals. Unnecessary treatments, commissions, and exorbitant bills drain patients’ wealth, and many lose their lives. Hospitals treat patients not as individuals needing care but as sources of profit. Even well-intentioned doctors are forced to comply with corrupt hospital policies, and due to corrupt government officials, patients rarely receive justice. This article discusses the problem with real evidence from eastern to western Nepal.
The Medical Mafia Nexus
A web of medical mafia has spread across Nepal’s healthcare sector. Doctors prescribe unnecessary tests and medications, sharing commissions with chemists and pharmaceutical companies. In 2016, the Centre for Investigative Journalism revealed that the Nepal Medical Council (NMC), universities, and private medical colleges colluded to grant licenses to colleges with inadequate infrastructure, producing unqualified doctors. Such doctors provide incorrect treatments, putting patients’ lives at risk.
Healthcare in Nepal is becoming increasingly expensive. Poor patients, especially from rural areas, are easy targets for the medical mafia. They are lured into costly treatments, forced to sell their property. In 2016, Anuj Bishwash took his own life at Birat Nursing Home, unable to pay hospital bills. Meanwhile, political leaders received millions from public funds for overseas treatment. This inequality highlights the plight of poor patients. Many die even after treatment because they are subjected to unnecessary procedures instead of essential care.
Evidence from East to West Nepal
- Eastern Nepal: A 2021 study in three public hospitals in eastern Nepal showed that inadequate compensation and lack of incentives demotivated healthcare workers. This leads to negligence in patient care, causing many deaths.
- Western Nepal: In Karnali Province, the lack of healthcare facilities is severe. One hospital has only five doctors to treat 25–28 patients daily. Even with ventilators and ICUs, the absence of trained staff prevents proper treatment of critical patients.
- Patient Deaths: The 2021 Nepal Health Facility Survey revealed that only 59% of health centers have basic amenities, and just 41% have basic equipment. This has led to thousands of deaths from treatable diseases.
- Example: In 2005, Shanti Lama underwent heart surgery in Kathmandu but was forced to return to her village as she could not afford to stay in the city. Lack of medication and nutrition led to her death.
Corruption runs deep in Nepal’s healthcare sector, and exploitation prevents poor people from accessing quality healthcare. Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index ranks Nepal 108th, indicating widespread corruption. A 2010 report exposed the NMC for accepting bribes to license substandard colleges, yet no reforms have followed. Even competent doctors are bound by corrupt hospital policies, as their livelihoods are at stake. Corrupt government officials protect these activities, leaving patients without justice.
Low health literacy in Nepal makes patients vulnerable to exploitation. According to a 2009/10 Health Department report, 392,831 people suffered from dental issues, and 35% of women were anemic, driven by poverty and lack of awareness. Patients often lack knowledge about their conditions or treatments, making it easier for doctors and hospitals to impose unnecessary procedures. The government has not launched effective health education campaigns.
Reforming Nepal’s healthcare sector requires strict policies, independent regulatory bodies, and effective health education campaigns. The government must hold the NMC accountable and punish those involved in corruption. Independent watchdog institutions should be established to protect patients’ rights. Additionally, public campaigns to increase health literacy are essential to help people avoid exploitation.
The medical mafia in Nepal’s healthcare sector is preying on the lives and property of poor patients. Real examples from eastern to western Nepal highlight the severity of this issue. Corruption, lack of regulation, and low awareness have deepened this crisis. We must collectively raise our voices against this injustice and push for reforms. A patient’s life is not a means of profit but a matter of dignity.