Neurosurgical Workforce of Nepal

Background: Historical data and a partial description of the ongoing neurosurgical scenario in Nepal were reported and published earlier. However, updated data on neurosurgical manpower in Nepal has not yet been published. This study aims to explore the neurosurgical workforce in Nepal involved in different administrative territories and in different health sectors.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. A nationwide survey was conducted through personal communication from April to September of 2023. Data on neurosurgeons in all 7 provinces of the country and the major sectors of the health services were collected. Similarly, the number of neurosurgeons in the country every year from 1988 was also collected.

Results: Through September 2023, there are 114 actively practicing neurosurgeons in the country for the population of 29,164,578, meaning 1 neurosurgeon serving about 255,829 people. Neurosurgeons are available in all 7 provinces of the country. More than half of the neurosurgeons in the country are fully involved in private practice while about one-third are in medical college and less than one-fifth are in the government service. The capital city has more than half of the neurosurgeons of the country.

Conclusions: The number of neurosurgeons in the country is still small, however its ratio with population is better than most of the other South Asian countries. In a short period of time, neurosurgical service flourished significantly in Nepal and is available in all the provinces and thus it has become more easily accessible.