Key national policies and institutions in Nepal must collaborate to ensure AI-assisted, productive health tourism
As Nepal advances towards becoming a respected destination for AI-enabled, ethical health tourism, it is essential that our national policies, institutions, and academic community work in close coordination to make this vision a reality.
The Health Policy of Nepal and the Health Ministry’s policy priorities must provide a strong, ethical, and strategic foundation for integrating health tourism with emerging technologies. At the same time, the ICT Policy of Nepal and the newly updated Digital Nepal Framework 2.0 offer the necessary digital infrastructure, regulatory direction, and innovation environment to support the responsible use of AI in health services.
But policies alone are not enough. Our universities, research institutions, and academic community — under the guidance of the University Grants Commission of Nepal — must play a leading role in building the human capital, research capacity, and technical expertise required for AI to be meaningfully and safely integrated into health tourism.
Only through this whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach — where health, technology, education, and research institutions work hand in hand — can Nepal ensure that health tourism becomes not only productive but globally competitive, trusted, and powered by ethical, well-regulated AI tools.
Together, we can create a future where AI enhances healthcare, strengthens Nepal’s position in global health tourism, and delivers real, equitable benefits to our people and to patients from around the world.