Medicosnext
In a significant move to reduce patient fatalities in hospital emergencies, the Ministry of Health and Population in Nepal has initiated basic life support (BLS) training for health workers. This initiative aims to equip medical professionals with essential skills to handle critical situations such as cardiac arrest, respiratory distress, and other life-threatening conditions.
Dr. Prakash Budhathoky, the ministry’s spokesman, announced that approximately 900 health workers, including doctors, nurses, paramedics, and health assistants, have already undergone BLS training. The remaining health workers are scheduled to receive this training in the upcoming fiscal year. Basic life support training is crucial in emergency situations, involving the recognition and response to emergencies, performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and providing breathing assistance. Experts believe that having trained health workers can significantly improve patient survival rates during emergencies. Furthermore, Dr. Budhathoky emphasized the need for provincial governments to extend this training to health workers in provincial hospitals and local health centers. Private health facilities will also be encouraged to provide BLS training to their staff.
In tandem with this initiative, the Nepal Medical Council (NMC) is working to make continuous professional development (CPD) training mandatory for doctors’ license renewal. This includes a 100-mark test covering ethics, basic life support, communication, infection control, and rational use of medicines. Dr. Bishwa Raj Dawadi, an NMC member, stated that continuous education is essential for maintaining high standards in medical practice. He said “Doctors must pass a 100-mark test on ethics, basic life support, communication, infection control and the rational use of medicines.” Meanwhile, the Nepal Medical Council, the national regulatory body for medical doctors, said it is working to make continuous professional development training mandatory for licence renewal. The NMC also aims to improve communication skills among doctors to better handle interactions with patients’ families, which can prevent conflicts and improve overall healthcare experiences.
By implementing these training programs, Nepal’s health sector is poised to enhance the quality of emergency care, ultimately saving more lives.
