Number of doctors rises to 45,498

KATHMANDU: The number of doctors in the country has reached 45,498.

According to the Economic Survey of Fiscal Year 2023/24, 30,027 MBBS doctors, BDS dental practitioners, and 10,588 MD/MS and MDS doctors are registered with the Nepal Medical Council as of mid-January. Of them, 16,350 are female.

Likewise, 122,313 nurses of various levels are registered with the Nepal Nursing Council as of mid-January.

According to the survey, Nepal has 1.2 doctors and 2.83 nurses per 1,000 population, which is higher than the standard set by the World Health Organization.

A total of 102,686 health workers, including doctors, nurses, midwives, Ayurvedic practitioners, health assistants, and female community health volunteers, are employed in government services as of mid-February 2022.

Similarly, the services provided by government and private health facilities through their inpatient, outpatient, and emergency departments numbered 46.05 million in the current fiscal year till mid-February 2024. This is nearly double compared to the previous fiscal year.

A total of 849 foreign nurses are also working in the country.