Memorandum of Understanding
between
ANMF, NMA-Central Office, NMA Lumbini Branch and HealthNet Nepal

Introduction of the Project:

HealthNet Nepal is providing health information services (Internet, Email and other health resources) in Nepal, which is mainly concentrated in Kathmandu valley till now. Realizing the necessity of expansion of this facility outside Kathmandu valley, a project is going to be implemented to add one more distribution hub outside Kathmandu and the geographical location has been selected in Butwal to optimize its utilization. This project aims to provide affordable and reliable health information to different health professionals (doctors, nurses and other health care workers) and health organizations located around the area under limited financial and technical resources. In this scenario, setting up an INTRANET system in Butwal will be appropriate because of limited financial and technical resources available for the project. Using INTRANET, the following services will be available:

1. Hosting of Local web sites at Butwal
2. Email connection to outside world
3. Access to local Health resources put in Web server at Butwal
4. Access to different medical journals downloaded from Internet
5. Use of Discussion group
6. Medline database search via email

Network diagram:

Involved Parties:

To complete the project, there will be the following parties working from their side.

1. ANMF
2. NMA-central office
3. NMA-Butwal Branch
4. HealthNet Nepal

Purpose of the MOU:

Since the project should be conducted in different phases and its service should be continued in future, all the parties have their roles different ways. There should be a minimum understanding between the parties to run the project smoothly and to make them feel responsible from their side to accomplish the jobs.

Liabilities/Responsibilities:

ach party involved in this project will have the following liabilities and responsibilities:

1) ANMF

• Provide the grant of US$ 10,000 for the purchase of necessary equipment to start the service.
• Explore potential donor agencies to promote HealthNet services outside Kathmandu valley.
• Evaluate the progress report in different phases of the project and impart necessary suggestions.

2) NMA-Central Office

• Facilitate the relation of HealthNet Nepal with NMA Lumbini Branch.
• Preparing and maintaining accounts of the grant received from ANMF.
• Help NMA Lumbini Branch to best utilize its service by contacting with different health organizations/professionals.

3) NMA-Lumbini Branch

• Hosting HealthNet Butwal office in its building.
• Administer the activities of HealthNet Butwal.
• Recruit necessary staffs.
• Marketing and developing a better strategy to extend HealthNet services to different locations around Butwal.

4) HealthNet Nepal

• Provide full technical support for purchasing the equipment.
• Setup an Intranet system at Butwal after the purchase of necessary hardware/software.
• Help NMA-Lumbini Branch to select the technical staffs for HealthNet Butwal
• Assist to train medical staffs from different health institutions/organizations to use the information technology in health sector
• Provide full technical consultancy for HealthNet Butwal.
• Provide full access of health resources for HealthNet Butwal available in HealthNet Kathmandu server.

Procurement:

Purchasing of the equipment will be the first stage of this project. The following points will be considered while purchasing the equipment.

• The equipment to be purchased will be selected so that the system could be easily upgraded into full INTERNET connection from existing INTRANET system.
• The specification of the equipment will be decided in detail after the discussing with leading technical consultants in Nepal.
• The necessary equipment will be purchased after evaluation of the quotations from at least three different authorized dealers in Nepal.
• Quoted equipment will be purchased only after the consensus of all the four parties regarding its appropriateness in terms of quality and the price.

Placement of the Equipment:

After purchasing the equipment, all of them will be owned by Nepal Medical association. HealthNet Nepal will use the equipment where and when needed to run its service in Butwal.

In the existing INTRANET system, all the equipment will be placed in HealthNet Butwal. The detail list of equipment is as following.

1. Server computer 1
2. Cisco Router 1
3. Dial in Modems 8
4. Battery Backup (UPS) 1
5. Battery 4
6. Battery Charger 1
7. HUB 1
8. UTP cable 300m (1 box)
9. Desktop computer 1
10. Phone lines 8
11. Spike Suppressor 10

Accounting:

1) NMA central office will be responsible for keeping all the accounting records involved with the grant received from ANMF.

2) NMA Lumbini Branch will be responsible for ongoing accounts of HealthNet Nepal services in Butwal. This will include:

• Installation of the hardware and software service
• Regular salary of the staffs at HealthNet Butwal
• Regular expenses of the Bandwidth, leased line cost, if needed
• Telephone/Electricity cost
• Replacement or maintenance of the hardware/software
• Income generated from the service

3) NMA Lumbini Branch will be responsible to ensure financial sustainability.

HealthNet Nepal will not claim any profit generated from the service. However, HealthNet Nepal may charge reasonable cost for its technical services.