Milestones of Medical Education in Karnali Academy of Health Sciences

Historical Background Nepal has made significant advance in medical education in the last three decades. There was only one medical college till 19901. Currently, there are 19 medical and 15 Dental colleges. Most of them are private and located either in Kathmandu valleys or Terai region. So far, health institutions do not seem to be built on the need basis. There is lack of equity in the distribution of such health facilities. However, Karnali Academy of Health Sciences (KAHS), Jumla has challenged to some extent, the traditional thinking of policy makers and concerned authorities. KAHS is located at Chandannath Municipality, of Jumla, Karnali, situated at an altitude of more than 2400m. KASH has been established through an act by then Legislature-Parliament pursuant to Article 83 of the Interim Constitution of Nepal, 2007 in order to provide quality health services to the backward Karnali region by promoting high quality medical education and research, and producing skilled manpower necessary to the region as well as by strengthening the health services. The districts considered Backward are Jumla, Humla, Dolpa, Mugu, Kalikot, Bajura, Bajang, Achham, Jajarkot. People of the region have been struggling for equity of health facilities which they were deprived of for over the years. Until few years back, KAHS was just a dream of people of Karnali but today it has been a reality and great asset of the remote rural communities. KAHS is important not only to improve health status, but also to other aspects of life of marginalized people of Karnali