Nepal’s healthcare has a memory problem

An elderly farmer from Rolpa arrives at a hospital in Kathmandu after travelling for nearly two days. He has visited his local health post, a district hospital, and a private clinic over the past several years. He has been treated for diabetes, high blood pressure and, more recently, chest pain. He has undergone blood tests, X-rays and an ECG. Somewhere along the way, medicines were changed. New diagnoses were added. Old reports disappeared. Now, sitting across from a doctor, he hears a question familiar to millions of Nepalis.

“Do you have your previous medical records?”