National Planning Commission’s new Mid-term Expenditure Report sets new two-year targets on the back of achievements in the health sector, but budgetary constraints and distribution mechanism pose serious challenges.

“Most of the countries allocate a minimum of 10 percent of the total budget for health but in the context of Nepal it is only 4 percent,” Chief Specialist at Ministry of Health and Population Dr Sushil Nath Pyakurel told the Post. “Distribution of more funds to local levels has further curtailed on the budget for health services and programmes.”

According to Joint Secretary at the commission Radha Krishna Pradhan, the new targets have been set following the recent achievements and international commitment to Sustainable Development Goals.

The report has set the target of reducing the Maternal Mortality Rate to 125 per 100,000; Under Five Child Mortality Rate to 26 per 1,000; Infant Mortality Rate to 17 per 1,000 and Stunted Children to 30 percent in the next two years. Similarly, it eyes increasing the rate of use of modern contraceptives to 55 percent; maternity services to women both through health institutions and well-trained health service providers to 72 percent.

Increasing pregnant women’s access to Vitamin A to 76 percent and prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) to 80 percent, the report says, while targeting to reduce the number of HIV patients to 710, provide Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus (DPT) vaccine to more than 93 percent children and measles vaccine to more than 94 percent children.

The commission also sets the target to achieve a success rate of 90 percent in tuberculosis cure and decrease the malaria cases to 950.Spurred by the improved health status of the public, the commission also sets a target of increasing the life-expectancy to 73 years.