University Kathmandu

The Department of Health Informatics at Kathmandu University's School (KU) of Engineering welcomed the delegates from Ethiopia, Senegal and Zambia. This visit was part of a comprehensive week-long study tour organized by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), ILO, and Expertise France.

The meeting was chaired by Assistant Professor Santosh Khanal, the Acting Head of DoHI, who provided an insightful introduction. The delegates received a warm welcome from Prof. Dr. Achyut Wagle, the Acting Vice-Chancellor and Registrar of Kathmandu University, who emphasized the importance of international collaboration in advancing health informatics.

During the discussions, Associate Prof. Dr. Rabindra Bista, PhD, who chairs the Health Informatics Program's subject committee and leads the NEEM project, shared his experiences regarding the establishment of the Master's in Health Informatics program at KU. He discussed the challenges faced in implementing the program and highlighted the current state of health informatics in Nepal, outlining both progress and areas that require further development.

A significant focus of the meeting was the implementation of openIMIS, aimed at streamlining Nepal's health insurance system. This topic is also integral to the "Health Financing and Economics" course within the Master’s in Health Informatics program. Mr. Ashish Koirala delivered a compelling presentation on this topic, providing the delegates with insights into how openIMIS can enhance efficiency and accessibility within the healthcare system.

Additionally, the discussions explored the interoperability of various digital health tools, including DHIS2 and OpenMRS, within the Health Informatics Lab at Kathmandu University. This interoperability is a crucial element of the NEEM Project. Dipesh Khadka presented on this topic, shedding light on the collaborative efforts to integrate these digital solutions to improve health informatics practices in Nepal.

The engaging dialogue between the delegates and faculty members not only fostered an environment of collaboration but also laid a foundation for future partnerships and advancements in health informatics on both local and global scales.

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