University leads on healthcare improvement drive for Nepal
The delivery of healthcare by nurses and midwives in Nepal is set to improve following research and recommendations led by the University of Huddersfield.
After nearly a decade of sustained research, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement the Nepal Nursing Council (NNC) has formally introduced mandatory Continuing Professional Development (CPD) as a requirement for nursing and midwifery re-registration and licensing, effective from 15 January 2026.
CPD is widely recognised as essential for maintaining professional competence, promoting evidence-based practice, and improving the quality and safety of healthcare delivery. The introduction of mandatory CPD represents a significant policy milestone for Nepal's nursing and midwifery professions.
The initiative was led by Dr Bibha Simkhada, Reader (Associate professor) in Nursing, University of Huddersfield in collaboration with an academic and professional team:
• Professor Chandrakala Sharma, Nepal Nursing Council (NNC), former chairperson (Aug 2015–Oct 2017)
• Professor Tara Pokhrel, former President, Nursing Association of Nepal (NAN)
• Assistant Professor Apsara Pandey, former Vice President, NAN
• Professor Padam Simkhada, Professor of Global Health, University of Huddersfield
• Professor Edwin van Teijlingen , Bournemouth University
• Rose Khatri, Liverpool John Moores University
Dr Simkhada, a UK-registered nurse originally from Nepal, initiated the work after recognising the absence of a structured CPD system within the Nepali nursing and midwifery governing structure.
Dr Bibha Simkhada said, “The adoption of CPD marks an important moment for nursing and midwifery in Nepal.
Dr Bibha Simkhada
Reader (Associate professor), Nursing, School of Human and Health Science
"Years of evidence-based work have shown that continuous professional learning is essential for maintaining standards, strengthening patient safety, and improving care outcomes.”
Professor Padam Simkhada added, “This regulatory success forms part of our broader work to strengthen evidence-informed policymaking in Nepal and is closely linked to our existing British Academy–funded project on the use of research evidence in health policy."
Initial discussions began in 2015 with Professor Sharma, and these efforts were subsequently supported and continued under the leadership of Professor Sarala KC and Professor Goma Devi Niraula, who served as Chairperson of the Nepal Nursing Council after Professor Sharma.
Awareness-raising activities began in 2016, followed by a comprehensive national CPD needs assessment conducted in 2017 and 2018. The first phase involved a large-scale survey of nurses and midwives across Nepal to identify CPD needs, preferred learning modalities and perceived barriers to participation.
The research also included qualitative interviews with senior nursing leaders and focus group discussions exploring stakeholders’ perceptions of CPD among Nepalese nurses and midwives in second phase.
A national stakeholder workshop held in August 2019 contributed to the development of a CPD framework tailored to the Nepali context.
Throughout the process, the research team maintained close and regular engagement with the Nepal Nursing Council. Associate Professor Binda Ghimire, Registrar of the Nepal Nursing Council, played a key role from the outset by supporting coordination, continuity, and institutional engagement.
Although progress was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, advocacy continued through sustained engagement and scholarly outputs, including a published viewpoint article.