Integrated Electronic Health System adopted to prevent duplication of health tests

KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 2: The Ministry of Health and Population has introduced an integrated electronic system for government health facilities to prevent redundant medical tests.

According to Health Minister Pradeep Paudel, sharing a patient's medical records from one hospital with another facility will help reduce unnecessary burdens, lowering diagnostic time and costs.

The Directive on Electronic Medical Archive System Operation and Management, 2081 B.S, endorsed by Minister Paudel, aims to eliminate duplicate health tests while ensuring cost and time efficiency. Additionally, it facilitates integrated data collection for evidence-based health policy decisions.

According to the Minister, the Health Ministry will oversee the system's implementation.

Both government and private health institutions are required to maintain patient records in the electronic medical archive system, allowing seamless data sharing when needed.

Ministry spokesperson Dr. Prakash Budhathoki stated that the system will ease the burden of carrying paper records for patients while improving hospital management.

"Although Nepal’s hospitals have adopted electronic systems, their data is not interoperable. As a result, patients are often required to undergo the same tests at multiple hospitals. The new system will eliminate such inconveniences," he explained.

The directive mandates hospitals to log data on diagnoses, doctors' recommendations, laboratory and radiology reports, service seekers and their relatives, lab results, blood bank records, and more.