Work

Building climate- and disaster-resilient digital primary health care in Nepal

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Recurrent disasters expose vulnerabilities in Nepal's primary health care (PHC). The August 2026 flash floods (GLIDE FF-2026-000162-NPL) affected six districts of central Nepal. By August 31, three health posts were fully damaged, four hospitals were partially damaged, access to two hospitals was affected, and 10,000 households required immediate relief.1 Similar fragility was evident after the September 2024 floods and landslides.2 Likewise, 2015 earthquake which killed 8,856, injured more than 22,000, and displaced 2.8 million, showed that information and communication technologies (ICTs) were underused within health-system response, despite supporting communication, coordination, and information exchange across informal and relief networks.

Source: The Lancet Regional Health - Southeast Asia

DOI: 10.1016/j.lansea.2026.100874

Authors: Prajjwol Luitel, Niranjan Adhikari, Meghnath Dhimal

Institutions: Kathmandu University, Nepal Health Research Council

Language: English

Topic: Disaster Response and Management

Subfield: Emergency Medical Services

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,250