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  • The BIS program in Nepal

Article

Building stronger health institutions and systems (BIS) in Nepal

Published Updated

Under the BIS program, NIPH is exploring long-term collaboration with partners in Nepal to contribute to strengthening public health capacity.

A field in Nepal
A field in Nepal. Copyright K.M. Blom-Bakke

Under the BIS program, NIPH is exploring long-term collaboration with partners in Nepal to contribute to strengthening public health capacity.

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Aims of the BIS collaboration in Nepal

NIPH and its partner institutions, primarily Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC), Kathmandu University, and Tribhuvan University, will work together over the course of the project to identify areas of mutual interest. Our aims are to strengthen capacity in the areas of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), infectious diseases and organizational development. We will collaborate to strengthen NCD prevention and control, especially at the primary health care level through implementation research. In supporting the field of infectious diseases, NIPH with partners will organize annual theoretical and practical laboratory courses in advanced molecular biology techniques. Finally, in supporting organizational development, we are, for example, supporting a public health consortium and grant application writing.

This collaboration is facilitated by the recruitment and supervision of PhD students in the field of implementation science for NCD programs, and on strengthening infectious disease laboratory capabilities. Closer institutional collaboration between NIPH and its partner institutions will be facilitated through Memorandums of Understanding (MoU)  and Collaboration Agreements.

History of collaboration

Since 2009, the NIPH has collaborated with Nepalese partners in the field of infectious diseases, with researchers from Department of Virology working with microbiologists at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in a Norad-financed project. The NIPH gave theoretical and practical seminars in molecular biology annually from 2011-2015, and hosted Nepal trainees in Oslo on several occasions.

Ongoing collaboration in Nepal

NIPH’s social mission is to provide, review and communicate knowledge that contributes to good public health efforts and healthcare services. Under BIS, the Nepal team has identified collaborating institutions with public health functions that mirror NIPH’s social mission.

Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC)

Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Nepal Health Research Council, June 2022
MoU signed with Nepal Health Research Council, June 2022. NIPH

The NHRC, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Health and Population, and NIPH are working together to strengthen research capacity, by stimulating local research activity, gathering expertise, providing more education opportunities, and housing PhD students.

The overall purpose of an MoU, signed in June 2022, was for NIPH and NHRC to work together to promote scientific collaboration and research in public health in Nepal, enhance knowledge exchange and, ultimately, to promote stronger public health institutions and systems in Nepal.

Kathmandu University School of Medical Science (KUSMS)

NIPH is also partnering with KUSMS, a not-for-profit organization, which is a pioneering institution to advance the field of health sciences, training, research and services in Nepal.

An MoU was signed in July 2022. KUSMS, with support from NIPH, is launching a PhD program in public health in the autumn. At the time of writing, partners are finalizing a collaboration agreement that outlines the first two PhD scholarships, one will be affiliated with NHRC. The PhD projects will be within the field of implementation research for non-communicable disease (NCD) programs.

Consortium of Academic Institutions for Public Health in Nepal (CAIPHEN)

Planning meeting of the Consortium of Academic Institutions for Public Health in Nepal, March 2022
Planning meeting of the Consortium of Academic Institutions for Public Health in Nepal, March 2022. NIPH

In March 2022, CAIPHEN was formally established with support from NIPH.

CAIPHEN comprises of universities and institutions running academic programs in public health. The consortium aims to enhance the quality and relevance of public health education and training, enhance the capacity and sustainability of health systems and health service organizations, and assist in the development and implementation of health policy and leadership development for health.

KUSMS is currently the secretariate for the consortium.

Tribhuvan University (TU)

TU is a public university, and the oldest and largest in Nepal.

One of 5 institutes within TU is the Teaching Hospital Institute of Medicine (TUTH-IOM), which is a public hospital for medical treatment services, research and education. NIPH has been collaborating with TU in the field of infectious diseases since 2009, and renewed MoUs were signed with both TU Central Department of Microbiology and TUTH-IOM in March 2022.

NIPH will continue to strengthening the laboratory capacity within molecular biological analyses though a PhD and courses.

NIPH Collaborative Team