Nepal is a small landlocked country of 29 million people. It remained isolated until the middle of the twentieth century and still remains behind the rest of the world in basic parameters of development including health care. Nepal has one of the worst physician to population ratios in the world, dismal health indicators like life expectancy, infant mortality rates and the wide prevalence of infectious diseases with very poor medical infrastructure in the country. The scourge of other diseases like pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases and cancer is ever increasing.

According to the International Labor Organization, "Nepal is the world's 12th poorest country, with an annual per capita of $241, the lowest in the South Asian region."

For detailed information on Nepal, please see the following links:

Asian Development Bank

CIA - The World Fact Book

Library of Congress

UNICEF

United States Department of State

Wikipedia