Responding to COVID-19: health sector preparedness, response and lessons learnt

Abstract

Over the past year, the rapidly growing pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges to Nepal’s health system. COVID-19 has had and continues to have, deep implications for individuals, societies, and health systems across the country. When tackling a virulent virus like SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, early interventions were crucial to stay ahead of the disease. The government was swift to act and impose the strictest restrictions in the early days of the virus's spread. Yet, because of Nepal’s limited resources, the country’s health system is struggled to manage the rising number of COVID-19 cases—especially with regards to screening community cases, establishing a diagnosis, and accommodating treatment at the available health facilities.