Kathmandu— The 11th edition of the National Summit of Health and Population Scientists in Nepal, regularly organized by the Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC), has officially commenced. The summit began on Thursday at the Soaltee Hotel, Kathmandu.

Minister for Education, Science, and Technology, Hon. Bidya Bhattarai, inaugurated the event. Speaking at the opening session, Minister Bhattarai emphasized that research and evidence form the foundation for policy-making. She said, “Only policies and decisions based on scientific facts lead to sustainable development. Evidence-based policy formulation ensures effectiveness.” She also noted that the summit highlights the importance of research and inspires action toward it.

Vice Chair of the National Planning Commission, Dr. Shivaraj Adhikari, expressed his pleasure in participating in the summit every year, calling it a valuable platform for researchers. He appreciated this year’s focus on climate change as a timely and significant theme.

Other notable speakers included Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Population, Dr. Bikash Devkota; Member of the National Planning Commission, Dr. R.P. Bichha; and Vice-Chair of the Medical Education Commission, Dr. Anjani Kumar Jha.

The main theme of this year’s summit is “Transforming Health Systems for a Resilient, Equitable, and Sustainable Future in the Context of Health, Climate, and Demographic Change.”

The summit is expected to host more than 1,000 national and over 100 international participants, with experts from countries such as India, China, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, the United States, and others joining both physically and virtually.

To ensure transparency and effectiveness, various committees have been formed for the summit’s organization. A total of 276 abstracts were submitted for presentation—146 for oral and 130 for poster presentations. Based on the criteria set by the Scientific Committee, 87 abstracts were selected for oral presentations and 115 for posters. In addition, 26 invited speakers and two keynote speakers will deliver focused presentations aligned with the summit’s theme.

The summit will also honor outstanding individuals in 14 different areas of health research with awards.