Carrying 14 years of media legacy of our parent organisation, Swasthya Khabar, a part of Nepal Live Group, Swasthya Khabar Foundation (SKF) aims at bringing the citizens health issues to the fore and linking them to the policy processes. We have supported, as well as contested, numerous health-related policies. For more than a decade, we have organised Health Awards events annually to recognise the contributions of not only health workers but also individuals from various sectors and institutions. Through SKF, we aspire to build upon our legacy and expand our scope to a broader health policy, governance, and advocacy realm. SKF is registered as a non-profit foundation in Nepal’s Office of the Company Registrar.

Why did we start SKF?

While Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and non-state actors have emerged as prominent entities in Nepal’s health landscape in recent years, most are engaged as service delivery agents, health technical partners and research agencies to supplement the ongoing efforts. However, healthcare systems are complex and strongly influenced by the country’s political and socio-economic factors. Health governance—particularly in federal Nepal—is a critical health systems component where the CSOs can make an invaluable contribution, yet their presence remains thin. Furthermore, many solutions to healthcare issues often lie beyond the purview of traditional and customary public health actors like the Ministry of Health and Population, which requires a broad-based engagement. Individuals' educational and income status directly correlates with their health, and the country’s labour policy may positively or negatively impact the health of concerned population groups. CSOs have ample avenues to capitalise on local accountability and policy advocacy opportunities to strengthen health governance and make a positive dent in the health outcomes of Nepali citizens. We established SKF in September 2023 to bridge this gap.