Bibhav Acharya, Executive Vice-President of Nyaya Health
Bibhav Acharya, Executive Vice-President of Nyaya Health was invited to present at an interaction between non resident Nepalis and the two ambassadors (Nepali ambassador to the US and the US ambassador to Nepal) in Washington DC. This invitation-only event was organized by The Non-Resident Nepalis Association ( NRN) National Coordination Council of USA and featured in the Nepal News.
Mr. Acharya made four specific recommendations based on Nyaya Health’s experience in Achham:
1. Decentralization: Currently, nearly all legal/government paperwork must be submitted in person in Kathmandu. Funds from the government that are allocated for Achham must be released, and can be delayed, by officials based in Kathmandu. Nyaya Health recommends that, if possible, online submission of legal paperwork should be available. If not, it is very important that the local government structures be given increased authority and responsibility so that people who are working in the remote parts of the country are not forced to spend 4 days traveling to and from Kathmandu.
2. Improve Transparency and Accountability: It is a very difficult and frustrating process to determine which documents are needed to complete government tasks like registering an organization or obtaining duty-free status for donated equipment. Nyaya Health recommends that an online website be used as a central portal by the Nepali government to act as a repository for required documents and checklists that will clearly lay out the process involved in conducting official, government work. This kind of transparency will prevent the abuse of the system that is prevalent now in which non-transparent rules force non-profit and for-profit organizations to run around several ministries and offices, only to be constantly told that their application is incomplete. Several organizations have often bribed their way to access information and submit an application. Nyaya’s wiki, which has all of our
financial data and
clinical protocols, serves as an excellent model to implement transparency and accountability.
3. Assist in Development from Abroad: Permanently moving back to Nepal is not the only way NRNs can help with development in Nepal. Nyaya has a telemedicine program where expert advice is made available via email and phone calls to answer questions posed by the staff and managers at the hospital. We have also hosted several physicians who have provided on-site training to our staff members during short trips from abroad.
(From left) NRN USA president Timsina, NRNA General Secretary Jha, Ambassador DeLisi, Ambassador Sharma and Desai at the interaction.
4. Donate and make social investments: There is a strong push to invest in for-profit ventures in Nepal. The excitement is fueled by end of the Maoist War and the successes of neighboring India and China. Social investment, however, must precede for-profit ventures. In addition to the moral reason to invest in transportation, education, nutrition and health, there is a strong financial reason to make such investments. Only after being able to meet the basic needs like food, shelter and healthcare, will people be able to contribute to the economy that everyone is trying to improve. Additionally, provision of basic services is essential to retain skilled labor. For example, it is very challenging to recruit effective managers to run a bank in a town where the nearest hospital is 6 hours away.
Nyaya would like to thank the NRN National Coordination Council and Nepal news for inviting and featuring us.
Tags: accountability, Bibhav Acharya, collaboration, decentralization, donate, Far West, global health delivery, nepal news, networking, Non-Resident Nepalis Association ( NRN) National Coordination Council, Nyaya, Nyaya Health, social investment, transparency, US ambassador
