The Nepal Ministry of Health and Population, under the leadership of the Honorable Health Minister, Mr. Pradip Poudel, recently organized the Nepal Health Conclave. Held on December 26th and 27th, this two-day event aimed to connect Nepali health professionals across the globe, leveraging the diaspora’s expertise to strengthen Nepal’s healthcare system. As I attended the program, I found myself reflecting on parallels between the dynamics of my family and the broader challenges within Nepal’s healthcare sector.
In my family, my elder sister pursued opportunities abroad. She worked tirelessly, earned advanced degrees, and excelled in her field. Though she initially wanted to return and contribute to Nepal, systemic barriers and personal aspirations kept her overseas. Meanwhile, I, the younger sibling, stayed back. My choice allowed me to maintain ties with our family, remain in a familiar cultural setting, and build a life rooted in the context of Nepal.
As our parents age, we both share the same goal: to ensure their happiness and comfort. However, our different paths in life have led to distinct approaches to caregiving, which often create their own set of challenges. My sister, despite being physically distant, frequently offers valuable advice, resources, and suggestions for improving our parents’ care. However, I sometimes feel her well-meaning recommendations don’t fully consider the contextual constraints I face—be it resource limitations, infrastructural challenges, or cultural nuances.
For instance, she encourages me to take our parents to multiple specialists for regular checkups. While her suggestions are thoughtful, implementing them can be far more complex given the realities of our local healthcare system. At times, I feel overwhelmed by the daily caregiving demands, while she might feel her contributions, whether financial or otherwise, are undervalued. This dynamic can lead to tension: I may unintentionally make her feel like an outsider, and she might inadvertently overlook the practical difficulties I navigate.
I was excited to see this dynamic mirrored in the discussions at the Nepal Health Conclave. The diaspora, much like my elder sister, brought innovative ideas, expertise, and a genuine desire to contribute. However, the local healthcare professionals, like those of us on the ground expressed that their suggestions sometimes overlook the realities of working within Nepal’s healthcare system, despite the diaspora’s good intentions and commitment to making a difference. The conclave made me reflect on the importance of understanding each other’s strengths and limitations both within families and in healthcare systems. For siblings like my sister and me, and for the diaspora and local healthcare professionals, this means recognizing each other’s roles and challenges without blame. It requires viewing disagreements as opportunities for “functional conflict” that can ultimately lead to better outcomes whether for aging parents or a nation’s healthcare system.
For improving the healthcare sector, aligning the diaspora’s contributions with contextually relevant and actionable solutions is crucial. Equally important is for local stakeholders to be open to suggestions, share the gaps they face, and provide constructive feedback. Only then can the diaspora refine their ideas to better suit Nepal’s realities.
At this year’s conclave, several key commitments were made to build collaboration between Nepal’s health sector and its global diaspora:
1. Establishing a Research and Diaspora Engagement Unit under the Ministry of Health, supported by an advisory group.
2. Integrating diaspora activities into the ministry’s national annual review.
3. Developing an idea/project bank to promote healthcare investments and start-ups.
4. Updating and mapping diaspora data for better collaboration.
5. Creating a virtual knowledge-sharing platform for continuous education and capacity building.
6. Allocating grants for diaspora-led research on underrepresented health issues.
7. Exploring the diaspora’s role in addressing health problems faced by Nepali migrant workers.
8. Testing new diagnostic and critical care services through diaspora engagement.
9. Launching a Rural Health Fellowship Program for diaspora members.
10. Conducting policy analysis to identify legal and regulatory requirements for healthcare investments.
Much like my family dynamics, the conclave emphasized reconciliation and collaboration. One of the most promising aspects was the initiative to open dialogues, bridging gaps between those abroad and those at home. The conclave seemed like the younger sibling taking its first step to reconnect with the elder, the youngest brother calling the elder brother this time to participate in a meaningful conversation with its diaspora to improve healthcare outcomes for all. And it was refreshing to see the older sibling’s enthusiasm to respond proactively.
Ultimately, whether in families or in the healthcare sector, collaboration is about understanding that everyone plays a role. Inspired by the conclave, I am eager to initiate a heartfelt conversation with my sister, exploring ways we can better support our parents despite our differences. Whatever may happen, it’s always good to see the initial steps being taken be it at a family dinner table or a national health conclave, a hand taken forward for collaboration.
