Nepal

Overall, around three fourths of private and zonal and above hospitals and two thirds of district
hospitals have all of the amenities considered basic to the provision of client services (with the exception of
a computer with Internet access). In sharp contrast, no UHCs and only 3 percent of HPs have all of the basic
amenities
In terms of managing authority, private facilities have all amenities (69 percent) much more often
than public facilities (5 percent). Health facilities in the terai region (16 percent) are more likely to have all
basic amenities (excluding a computer with Internet access) than facilities in the mountain (4 percent) and
hill (10 percent) regions. Considering specific amenities, the availability of an improved water source (94
percent), emergency transport (70 percent), a computer with Internet access (15 percent), and communication
equipment (23 percent) is better in the terai region than in the hill and mountain regions. On the other hand,
regular electricity is available much less often in facilities in the terai region (37 percent) than in facilities in
the hill (53 percent) and mountain (69 percent) regions
The availability of all amenities (excluding a computer with Internet access) is slightly better in the
14 earthquake-affected districts (14 percent) compared with the national average (11 percent). However,
facilities in the earthquake-affected districts fall below the national average with respect to the availability
of regular electricity, an improved water source, and, especially, visual and auditory privacy
Figure 3.2 Availability of basic amenities for client services (N=963)
Regular electricity
49
Improved water source
Visual and auditory privacy
Client latrine
79
81
82
Communication equipment
20
Computer with Internet
11
Emergency transport
59
All amenities excluding computer with Internet
11
2015 NHFS
3.3.2 Basic Equipment to Support Quality Health Services
Certain basic equipment is needed to deliver quality health services. The World Health Organization
(WHO) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have proposed a list of seven
equipment items that should be available at a health facility to guarantee its readiness to deliver basic health
services (WHO 2012). These items are an adult weighing scale, a child weighing scale, an infant weighing
scale, a thermometer, a stethoscope, a blood pressure apparatus, and a light source. Table 3.4 and Figure 3.3
reports on the availability of these basic items in health facilities in Nepal
A stethoscope, found in 98 percent of facilities, is the most commonly available basic equipment,
followed by a blood pressure apparatus (94 percent), a thermometer (93 percent), and an adult weighing
scale (89 percent). Around half of facilities have an infant weighing scale (55 percent) and a light source (51
percent), and about 4 in 10 have a child weighing scale. Overall, 13 percent of facilities have all equipment
items considered basic to providing quality client services.
Facility-Level Infrastructure, Resources, Management, and General Service Readiness • 35