Posted by Astha Ramaiya
All countries have different structures of health care staff based based on their particular local government system. We understand that reading Nyaya blog entries which discuss the different staff at Bayalpata Hospital can be confusing for our readers. In this entry we hope to clarify the different roles and qualifications of staff who work in the Nepali health care system.
Nyaya currently employs 1 Accountant/Administrative Assistant, 1 ambulance driver, 5 Auxiliary Nurse Midwives, 4 Community Health Workers, 2 doctors (MBBS), 3 Health Aides, 2 Health Assistants, 1 Lab Assistant, 1 night guard, 2 Office Assistants and 1 Pharmacist.
Don Bogati (left) is the Bayalpata Hospital Outpatient Department Assistant and Hiusan Kamal (right) is the Hospital security guard
We hope the below descriptions will be helpful in understanding how the Bayalpata Hospital runs day to day – it is these staff who make Nyaya’s work possible. You can read more about each of them on our Personnel page here. We have also listed descriptions of other health care positions in the Nepali health care system, including Auxiliary Health Workers, Staff Nurses, and Lab Technicians, however Nyaya does not currently employ any persons in these roles.
The Accountant/Administrative Assistant requires an individual to have a university degree (Bachelor in Business Studies) which is a three year full time course after completing the 12th grade. This person helps in the logistics and administrative aspects of the hospital, ensuring financial statements are balanced, medicines are properly ordered, and all vouchers are appropriately filed. Furthermore, this person monitors inventory at the hospital and keeps track of the ambulance usage.
(left to right) Kamala Sharma (ANM), Urmila Basnet (ANM), Sangeeta Nepali (ANM) and Rambha Kamal (Health Aide)
The ambulance driver does not require a formal education after the 8th grade. This role offers critical service to the hospital by driving patients too ill to be cared for at Bayalpata Hospital safely to their referral centers upon the request of the Medical Director.
The Auxiliary Health Worker (AHW) is not a formal academic training. The duration of the course is 1 and a half years after 10th grade. This role operates in a similar but smaller capacity to that of Health Assistant; AHWs are able to see patients for minor medical conditions, handle prescription medications and function in the health and sub-health posts throughout Nepal.
Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANM) function below the role of the Staff Nurse. The course duration is 1 and a ½ years after 10th grade. ANMs at Bayalpata handle much of the obstetric and maternal care, and act generally as nurses assisting the other health care workers.
Community Health Workers (CHW) are lay-community members who receive training from Nyaya Health. CHWs work in their communities, following up with patients who have been seen at the hospital, providing medication and offering health education.
Doctors – An individual with the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) is a certified medical doctor which is the equivalent to a Medical Doctor in the USA. This position requires 5 and a ½ year formal academic training after 12th grade. The role of the doctor is to examine patients, write prescriptions, perform Ultrasounds and carry out minor surgical and obstetric procedures. Nyaya’s two doctors also act to oversee and train other members of the health care team.
Jhapat Thapa (left, Medical Director) and Lal Bahudur Kunwar (right, Health Assistant) tend to Bayalpata Hospital's water reservoirs.
Health Aides have no academic training. Their education is below 10th grade. Their responsibilities are to assist with the daily logistics of the hospital, including cooking, cleaning, and registering patients.
The training of a Health Assistant is a formal academic training 3 years after 10th grade. This position is for mid level health care staff who treat common diseases. Their role is to carry out the triage system, write prescriptions and consult doctors for complicated cases.
A Lab Assistant requires usually 1 and a half years after 10th grade. The responsibility is to conduct and provide lab tests for the hospital. They may work independently or under the supervision of a Lab Technician.
A Lab Technician is a formal academic training 3 years after 10th grade. The role is to conduct and provide lab tests and has the ability to conduct advanced tests.
Nurses play a very big role in Nepali health care delivery. The position of a Staff Nurse is a formal academic training 3 years after 10th grade. The role entails providing medication according to prescriptions, conducting deliveries, providing nursing care and consulting the physician when required.
The position of a pharmacist is a 3 year formal training after 10th grade. The role of the pharmacist is to dispense medicines.
i am regular see the naya health activities. i am very happy to something progress the heath activities in achham. contnious to this.
purna kumal, mumbai
editor, nepal sandes\nepal vision mumbai
social worker, sathi nepal, mumbi
[...] for the delivery. At Bayalpata Hospital, in order to promote team work and collaboration between the staff, all health worker reimbursements will be pooled together and reimbursed monthly, equally amongst [...]