Nepal, July 23 -- Since assuming office last year, Minister for Health and Population Pradip Paudel has spent much time making one after another pledge. He vowed to bring a sea change in health by ending the woes of patients at the state-run health facilities and by reducing long waiting lines at public hospitals within a month of his appointment. He also promised to soon jack up the health insurance coverage to Rs500,000. Paudel even issued a circular for the (rather unrealistic) execution of the Cabinet decision to provide outpatient care on public holidays. The health minister went so far as to announce free treatments for impoverished burn patients and cancer patients under fourteen.

A year on, his promises ring hollow as patients co...