Attracting and retaining doctors in rural Nepal

INTRODUCTION

In Nepal, a number of private sector medical schools have opened recently; although sufficient numbers of doctors are graduating there continues to be a doctor shortage in rural areas. This article analysed the rural doctor shortage in Nepal and reviewed the international literature for strategies that may be suitable for use in Nepal.

METHODS

Original research articles, reviews, magazine articles and project reports dealing with Nepal and other developing countries during the period 1995 to 2010 were sourced via Google, Google Scholar and Pubmed. Full text access was obtained via WHO's HINARI database.

RESULTS

The health workforce in Nepal is unevenly distributed resulting in doctor shortages in rural areas. The recent introduction of mandatory rural service for scholarship students was aimed to reduce the loss of medical graduates to developed nations. High tuition fees in private medical schools and low Government wages prevent recent graduates from taking up rural positions, and those who do face many challenges. Potential corrective strategies include community-based medical education, selecting rural-background medical students, and providing a partial or complete tuition fee waiver for medical students who commit to rural service. Traditional healers and paramedical staff can also be trained for and authorized to provide rural health care.

CONCLUSIONS

A range of strategies developed elsewhere could be used in Nepal, especially community-oriented medical education that involves rural doctors in training medical students. The reimbursement of tuition fees, assistance with relocation, and provision of opportunities for academic and professional advancement for rural doctors should also be considered. Government investment in improving working conditions in rural Nepal would assist rural communities to attract and retain doctors.

Medical humanities in Nepal--snakes and ladders

In the last decade there has been a quantitative growth in medical schools in Nepal, a developing country in South Asia. Medical Humanities (MH) uses disciplines traditionally termed as the humanities in the pursuit of medical educational goals. The subject is slowly developing in Nepal. Sessions have been conducted at Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara and KIST Medical College, Lalitpur. In this article the authors examine inhibitory factors (snakes) and facilitating factors (ladders) for the development of the subject in Nepal.

Drug utilisation among older inpatients in a teaching hospital in Western Nepal

INTRODUCTION

The proportion of the elderly population in Nepal, though low, is steadily increasing. Studies on drug utilisation among geriatric patients in Western Nepal, a region with the highest proportion of the elderly in all of Nepal, are lacking. The present study was carried out at the Manipal Teaching Hospital, a 700-bed teaching hospital in Pokhara, Western Nepal.

METHODS

The study was carried out from June 1, 2005 to May 31, 2006 using case records of discharged patients aged 60 years and older. This was an observational study that utilised a retrospective case notes review methodology. The microorganisms isolated on culture and their antibiotic sensitivity patterns were studied. Drug consumption was measured by the defined daily dose (DDD) per 100 bed-days. The mean cost of the drugs was calculated. The percentage of drugs prescribed by generic name and the percentages of fixed-dose combinations used were noted. The basic demographic information of older inpatients, drug utilisation patterns, drug consumption using DDD, organisms isolated and their antibiotic sensitivity patterns, and the mean cost of the drugs were studied.

RESULTS

A total of 548 patients were admitted. Hypertension, acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cancer were the most common illnesses among the patients. The mean number of drugs consumed by each patient was 7.73. Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the most common microorganisms isolated. Ranitidine, multivitamins, amlodipine, ipratropium and dextrose normal saline were most commonly prescribed. The DDD per 100 bed-days of ranitidine and omeprazole (highest values) was 33.48 and 3.51, respectively. The mean cost of drugs was USD26.6, and antibiotics accounted for around 40 percent of the cost.

CONCLUSION

The use of a high number of drugs, and of parenteral drugs and intravenous fluids, is a common problem. The prescription of generic drugs is low. Guidelines for the use of drugs in the elderly are required and further studies are needed on this issue.

A voluntary medical humanities module in a medical college in Western Nepal: participant feedback

BACKGROUND

A pioneering, voluntary Medical Humanities (MH) module was conducted at the Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara, Nepal using small-group interactive sessions, literature and art excerpts, case scenarios, role-plays, and debates.

DESCRIPTION

Participant feedback was obtained using focus-group discussions and reflective writing assignments. Medicine and the Arts, Ethics and Medicine, and Social Issues in Medicine were the three main units. Students from the third, fifth, and sixth semester and "interested" faculty members participated.

EVALUATION

Learning the humanities had a number of advantages. Role-plays were an enjoyable and effective learning methodology. The module would be of help in individualizing treatment to specific patients. Other topics can be considered. Faculty and students learning together was an enjoyable experience.

CONCLUSIONS

The participants enjoyed being a part of the module. More literature and art excerpts from Nepal and South Asia should be used. MH can help to orient practice in a Nepalese/South Asian sociocultural context.

Medical education and medical educators in South Asia--a set of challenges

South Asia has vast unmet health needs especially in rural areas. Community-based medical education can partly address these needs and can serve to introduce students to a number of community health problems. Climate change has the potential to produce major challenges for health and food security in South Asia. Medical students should be taught about climate change and methods to tackle its impact on health. The pharmaceutical industry in South Asia aggressively promotes their products. Disease mongering is becoming more common in South Asia. Educational initiatives to sensitize students regarding promotion are common in developed countries. In Nepal, an educational initiative critically looks at the industry's promotional tactics. Similar initiatives are required in other medical schools. The nature of the doctor-patient relationship is changing. An increasing demand for patient autonomy and for their involvement in therapeutic decisions is seen. Access to the internet and internet sources of health information is increasing. Medical schools should address these issues as well. Medical Humanities modules and courses in communication skills are required. Research can play an important role in alleviating the health problems of South Asia. Students should be taught the basics of scientific research and student research should be strongly encouraged.

Study of prescription of injectable drugs and intravenous fluids to inpatients in a teaching hospital in Western Nepal

Unnecessary, excessive and poor injection practices in the South East Asia region (including Nepal) have been observed previously. The authors aim to study prescription of injectable drugs to inpatients in a teaching hospital in Western Nepal. Prescription of injectable drugs (IDs) and intravenous fluids (IVFs) to inpatients discharged from the wards of the Manipal Teaching Hospital during 1st January to 30th June 2006 was studied. The mean number of drugs, IDs and IVFs administered, median cost of drugs and of IDs/IVFs per prescription calculated. Comparison of ID/IVF use in the four major hospital departments (Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics and Surgery) was done. The administration of IDs/IVFs and injectable antimicrobials were measured in Defined Daily Dose (DDD)/100 bed-days and of Intravenous fluid in Liters (L)/100 bed-days. Of the 1131 patients discharged, 938 (82.94%) patients received one or more IDs/IVFs. The mean number of drugs, IDs and IVFs prescribed were 8.75, 4.72 and 1.42. Median cost of drugs and IDs/IVFs per prescription were 8.26US$ and 5.12US$ respectively. IDs/IVFs accounted for 81.37% of total drug cost. The most commonly used ID, injectable antimicrobial and IVF were Diclofenac (19.3 DDD/100 bed-days), Metronidazole (7.68 DDD/100 bed-days) and Dextrose normal saline (8.56 L/100 bed-days), respectively. The total IVF consumption was 24.25 L/100 bed-days. Significant differences between departments were observed (p<0.05). In conclusion, the use of IDs/IVFs was higher compared to other studies. Interventions to improve IDs/IVFs prescribing practices may be required.

Using case scenarios and role plays to explore issues of human sexuality

INTRODUCTION

Doctors and medical students should know what to ask patients, should do so in a sensitive and caring manner and convey a supportive, non-judgmental attitude to their patients, especially with regard to sexual and reproductive issues. The Manipal College of Medical Sciences (MCOMS), Pokhara, Nepal admits students from Nepal, India, Sri Lanka and other countries to the undergraduate medical (MBBS) course. In the MBBS curriculum sexual and reproductive issues are not adequately covered.

METHODS

The Department of Medical Education at MCOMS organized a voluntary Medical Humanities module and conducted a session on social issues in the use of medications. Issues regarding sexual and reproductive health were explored using case scenarios and role plays.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

This manuscript describes selected case scenarios and various sexuality-related issues covered. The students and the faculty members were of the opinion that sexual and reproductive issues are a grey area in the curriculum. The case scenarios appeared to be successful in sensitizing students and faculty members about certain issues of sexuality. Participants felt the skills acquired would be useful in their future practice. Based on this experience, the module will be modified and strengthened, along with the evaluation process.

Reading habits and attitude toward medical humanities of basic science students in a medical college in Western Nepal

BACKGROUND

The Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara, Nepal, admits students from Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, and other countries to the undergraduate medical course.

PURPOSES

The present study sought to describe and explore reading habits of medical students during the first three semesters and obtain their views regarding inclusion of medical humanities in the course.

METHODS

The authors introduced a voluntary module in medical humanities to the fifth- and sixth-semester students. Gender, semester, and nationality of respondents were noted. Commonly read noncourse books (fiction and nonfiction) were noted. Student attitudes toward medical humanities were studied using a set of nine statements. A total of 165 of the 220 students (75%) participated. Indians followed by Nepalese were the most common nationalities.

RESULTS

Romantic fiction and biography were most commonly read. The Alchemist and The Da Vinci Code were commonly read books. Students were in favor of inclusion of medical humanities in the curriculum. The median total score was 30 (maximum possible score = 45).

CONCLUSIONS

Students read widely beyond their course. The possibility of introducing medical humanities in the curriculum should be explored.

Irrational fixed dose combinations in Nepal: need for intervention

A large proportion of drugs available are of little importance in terms of fulfilling primary healthcare needs. Combination drugs increase the risk of side effects, lead to an ineffective dosage and liability to abuse and may also needlessly increase the cost. Drug combinations make it more difficult to find the causative agent responsible for the adverse reactions. In many cases their stability is doubtful, reducing the efficacy of many preparations. The Fifteenth WHO model list of essential medicines (March 2007) contains only 25 approved fixed dose combinations, whereas in Nepal, there are innumerable examples of irrational drug combinations, which are easily available and can be bought even without a prescription. A system of screening the drug combinations that are already licensed and available in the market is implemented in many developed and developing countries. Rational combinations can be of immense help to the health care system. These combinations may improve the quality of life for many and increase compliance. But irrational fixed dose combination products can be equally harmful.