NMA CON 2026 Opens in Chitwan as Nepal’s Doctors Focus on Smarter, More Equitable Healthcare
The Nepal Medical Association has launched its 30th national medical conference in Chitwan, bringing together experts from Nepal and abroad to discuss primary care reform, digital health, rural access, and health equity.
The Nepal Medical Association has kicked off its 30th national medical conference, NMA CON 2026, at the BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital in Chitwan, setting the stage for two days of high-level discussion on the future of healthcare in Nepal.
According to NMA President Dr. Anil Bikram Karki, the conference is drawing specialist doctors, nurses, and health workers from Nepal, India, and China, along with representatives from the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health. The gathering is centered on the theme of strengthening primary health care through innovation for healthcare that is modern, accessible, affordable, and equitable.
The conference comes at a time when Nepal’s health system is facing pressure to expand access, improve quality, and close the gap between urban and rural care. Organizers say the event is designed to push that conversation beyond policy slogans and into practical solutions.
More than 100 presentations are expected during the event, including around 60 research papers. The program also includes four panel discussions and special sessions focused on primary health care reform, digital health, rural health access, health insurance, and human resource management in the health sector.
One of the key ideas driving the conference is the need to connect medical innovation with everyday care delivery. That includes exploring how digital tools can support clinicians, how rural communities can get faster access to care, and how health systems can better support the workforce that keeps them running.
The conference also highlights Nepal’s growing effort to align healthcare development with its constitutional promise of health as a right. Dr. Karki said the scientific sessions will examine ways to strengthen that right while also integrating global technological innovations into Nepal’s health sector.
With expert participation from across the region and support from international health organizations, NMA CON 2026 is shaping up as more than a professional gathering. It is a forum where policy, research, and frontline experience meet, with the potential to influence how Nepal thinks about the next phase of healthcare reform.
The conference will conclude on Sunday.