Kathmandu Declaration: Financing for Universal Health Coverage

International Conference on Health Economics 11-12 December 2025

The International Conference on Health Economics, held on 11–12 December 2025 in Kathmandu, concluded successfully under the leadership of the Nepal Health Economics Association (NHEA). The event convened senior government officials, development partners, researchers, and global experts to discuss priority issues in health financing and economic evaluation.

The conference concluded with the adoption of a six-point Kathmandu Declaration, outlining commitments to strengthen health economics capacity, promote evidence-informed policymaking, enhance resource mobilization, and foster multi-sector collaboration for advancing Nepal’s health system.

We, delegates of the International Conference on Health Economics dated 11-12 December 2025, Kathmandu, Nepal, representing government, health development partners, academic and research organizations, and civil societies, jointly agree on the following declaration:

1- Emphasizing the need to ensure health system efficiency and equity, we call Ministry of Health and Population for institutionalizing transparent, fair, and country-appropriate priority setting processes that are evidence-based and inclusive.

2- Acknowledging insufficient resources for health sector, and Nepal’s aspiration for graduation from low income country, we advocate for increased and sustained investment in health. We call for proactive strategies to expand fiscal space through effective implementation of health taxes, prioritize improved domestic resource mobilization, greater budgetary efficiency, and strengthened public financial management.

3- Recognizing the fragmentation in financial risk pooling within and outside health sector, we advocate for integration and/or harmonization of existing schemes to improve health system efficiency, strengthen risk pooling, and reduce duplication of efforts.

4- Addressing the financial hardship faced by households seeking health care, especially for non-communicable diseases, we call for actions that enhance financial risk protection, including expanding coverage of quality health services, and prioritizing interventions that reduce impoverishment due to health care costs.

5- Committing to promote the use of health economics evidence in the implementation of health policy, we emphasize the need for stronger collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to share best practices, foster knowledge exchange, and bridge the gap between evidence generation and policy action.

6- Reiterating the urgent need for institutionalization of health economics within Nepal’s health care system, we call for investment in capacity building of young professionals in health economics research to ensure sustainability and long-term impact.