Policy

Summary

Nepal has incredible diversity based on unique geography, multicultural social norms and values, religions, castes and ethnicities, all which have impacted the socio-economic status of its citizens. Furthermore, the country’s existing social and economic disparities, stemming from a hierarchical caste-based structure, patriarchal thinking and geographic and regional differences, have affected the equitable access and use of state-provided public health services, facilities and resources by the disadvantaged and marginalized groups, particularly women and children. Nepal’s current low human development index (HDI) is directly related to the visible regional disparity, gender inequality and social exclusion, as experienced by the state’s most vulnerable groups.