Nepal, April 15 -- Modern healthcare in Nepal has a relatively short history. Bir Hospital, the first in the country, was established in 1889 during the reign of Prime Minister Bir Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana. The establishment of the Nepal Medical Association (NMA) in 1951 and the Nepal Medical Council (NMC) in 1964 were significant milestones in regulating and professionalising the medical field. It laid the groundwork for medical advancement.

Since the inception of the NMC, the number of registered physicians has steadily increased. As of mid-January 2024, the NMC had registered 45,498 doctors, including 30,027 medical doctors and 4,883 dentists, according to the Economic Survey of 2023-24. However, the Nepal Medical Council figures sh...