Unlocking potential: innovative "private-non-profit" partnership for empowering children with disabilities in resource-limited settings in Nepal.

BACKGROUND

Physical disabilities affect approximately 240 million children globally, with limited access to comprehensive care in resource-constrained settings. In Nepal, an estimated 2% of children under 16 experience physical disabilities, facing significant barriers to healthcare access, education, and social integration. Traditional healthcare models often struggle to provide affordable, accessible, and sustainable care for these children.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effectiveness and sustainability of an innovative private-nonprofit partnership model between the Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre for Disabled Children (HRDC) and B&B Hospital in Nepal, designed to provide comprehensive care for children with physical disabilities in resource-limited settings.

METHODS

The study analyzes a 40-year experience implementing a unique healthcare delivery model combining HRDC's non-profit expertise with B&B Hospital's private sector resources. The model integrates four key components: identification through mobile camps and community outreach, comprehensive medical treatment, rehabilitation services, and social reintegration programs.

RESULTS

The partnership achieved a 62% reduction in treatment costs compared to private healthcare institutions. Over 40 years, HRDC has performed more than 55,000 surgeries, benefiting over 116,000 children surgically. The program has distributed 100,000+ assistive devices, raised disability awareness among 1.5 million+ people, and trained over 700 primary rehabilitation therapists. The model's community-based approach has enabled coverage of all 77 districts in Nepal through rotating mobile clinics.

CONCLUSION

The HRDC-B&B partnership demonstrates that private-nonprofit collaboration can effectively address healthcare barriers for children with physical disabilities in resource-limited settings. The model's success in combining cost efficiency, quality care, and community integration provides a replicable framework for similar interventions in other developing countries. Key factors for success include diverse funding sources, strong community engagement, and integrated service delivery under one roof.