"Nepal needs a special strategy for medical tourism"

Dr. Chakra Raj Pandey, no doubt is a highly reputed name in the country's medical sector. Over the last 27 years, he has been making substantial contributions to the sector.    

Such contributions relate to two factors. First, with his specialty in sports medicine, arthroscopy, joint replacement, and paediatric orthopedic surgery, the veteran medical professional has successfully treated thousands of Nepali patients. Second, several strategic moves are made by him to bolster the entire healthcare system of the country.      

 In his brief tete-a-tete with Nirjal Dhungana for corporaeangle.com, Dr. Pandey sheds light on crucial aspects of his professional career in addition to the challenges and opportunities vis-a-vis the Nepali medical sector.  

1. Could you please first tell us how did your professional career begin?  

Way back in 1983, After completing my Intermediate in Science (Isc) with the highest grade. So, I got a scholarship for further education in a foreign country. As part of this, I went to Turkey to study MBBS at Hacettepe University in Turkey in 1984. 

In 1992, the very course was completed by me by showing exceptional performance. So, the university again awarded me with a scholarship for a specialist degree in Orthopaedics and Traumatology. It was in 1997 that I accomplished this degree. Then the university immediately proposed to me the post of assistant professor.  This post, of course, offered a big opportunity for monetary gain and career growth. Nevertheless, I resisted from accepting it. The very move was guided by my desire to go back and my motherland. Notably, my spouse fully supported my very aspiration of mine and we both flew back to Nepal.  

 2 . After again coming back to  Nepal, where did you work? 

I worked in various health institutions like Kathmandu Nursing Home, Hospital and Rehabilitation Center for Disabled Children (HRDC), B& B Hospital, Medicare, and Grande. While being part of them, I was proactively engaged in uplifting the overall quality of related medical treatment. 

 For instance, while working at B& B Hospital from 1997 to 2002, efforts were made by me to help introduce not only the first-ever orthopedic training programmes but also innovative procedures in arthroscopy, traumatology, etc.  

 Similarly, under my leadership, cutting-edge medical facilities like Heli Rescue were introduced at Grande Hospital. During my stay there from 2013 to 2022 as both a founding member and doctor, my efforts were directed towards making the entire clinical healthcare system of the hospital at par with international standards.  

Under my leadership, cutting-edge medical facilities like Heli Rescue were introduced at Grande Hospital.

3. What are the healthcare institutions you are currently affiliated with? 

 Well, I am currently affiliated with Frontline Hospital and Anamiwa Health. 

The hospital is a multidisciplinary super-specialty institution in which my position is Clinical President. My efforts here are zeroed in on making this institution not making it a center of excellence for not only  Nepal but of entire South Asia. 

  Similarly, I am looking after Anamiwa Health as its founder. The very institution is providing a comprehensive orthopedic care package (based on non-surgical, natural means) to its patients. Such a package is backed by doctors with proven track records and innovative tools.  

I am looking after Anamiwa Health as its founder. The very institution is providing a comprehensive orthopedic care package (based on non-surgical, natural means) to its patients

4. What is the quality level of the current orthopedic treatment in Nepal? 

I must say that the very level is fairly good. Today, a wide array of modern orthopedic tre related to the replacement of body parts (like knee, elbow, and shoulder), deformity correction, joint reconstruction surgery, etc, are being offered to Nepali patients. Similarly, with the advent of modular operation theatre, the chances of infection during orthopedic ( and also other kinds of surgery) have now been reduced.  For some two decades the said treatment procedures and facilities were simply non-existent.  

5. As a veteran professional of the Nepali healthcare industry, how do you view the prospects of medical tourism in the country? 

The prospects are, indeed, bright. But, sadly, they have yet to be capitalized upon to help expedite the country’s socio-economic growth. 

6. So, how such potentials could be tapped? 

 In my opinion, it is high time the country came up with a special strategy for medical tourism. It should focus on developing the health infrastructure required to attract foreign patients for complex specialized surgeries like joint replacement, cardiac surgery, etc. The private sector could well be encouraged to invest in this regard through tax incentives. 

It is high time the country came up with a special strategy for medical tourism. It should focus on developing the health infrastructure required to attract foreign patients for complex specialized surgeries like joint replacement, cardiac surgery, etc

Similarly, the special strategy must facilitate partnerships between the hospitals and tourism-related organizations (like hotels, and travel agencies) to design an attractive treatment package for foreign patients.