“Health at Home,” an innovative integrated healthcare service delivery platform, started as an idea 15 years ago in 2009. It soon transformed into a healthcare service delivery innovation and quickly evolved into an inspiring service model. For this contribution, “Health at Home” was awarded the Surya Nepal Social Entrepreneurship Award (SNASEA-2012). In recognition of his work in service delivery innovation, Dr. Bishal Dhakal received an exchange fellowship in 2014 from the U.S. State Department, allowing him to travel to the United States and gain experience in the U.S. healthcare system. “Health at Home” was also recognized as the best community development program in a poster competition in Washington, D.C., in 2014. Dr. Dhakal represented Nepali youth in entrepreneurship during the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) at Stanford University in 2016 as a special GES+ delegate. He has been globally recognized for promoting entrepreneurship and innovation, participating in the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) in Turkey and Bahrain in 2018 and 2019.

Dr. Dhakal’s involvement in healthcare system development has positively impacted thousands of families and created over 15,000 active jobs in the healthcare market in a short period. What began as informal support for families has become an organized industry, now one of the fastest-growing healthcare service segments in the community.

As part of the Nepalese Youth Entrepreneurship Federation (NYEF), Dr. Dhakal actively participates in entrepreneurship activities across Nepal, providing lectures, coaching, and mentorship. He serves on the boards of new enterprises and social initiatives both in Nepal and internationally. For his work, he was invited to speak at a local TED Talk event. He is also involved in various charity and philanthropic initiatives. Notably, he played a key role during the 2015 earthquake, mobilizing over 3,000 youth volunteers to create “Operation Relief” in collaboration with FNCCI. This initiative was operational within 24 hours of the earthquake and earned him the title of Nepali Resilience Hero, or “Nepali Yuva Ratna.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Dhakal managed his caseload at “Health at Home” while also engaging in numerous philanthropic initiatives. His recent initiatives include a telephone-based triage solution with Nepal’s private cellular provider, NCell, which helps to counsel and reassure individuals to avoid unnecessary hospital visits. He also launched the “Nepal Ventilator Bank” to prepare for potential ICU equipment shortages if COVID-19 cases surge and ventilator demand increases. His strategies focus on building a resilient society, enhancing community healthcare capacity, and supporting government efforts.

Dr. Dhakal has studied in six countries and speaks five languages. He is married and lives with his two children in Kathmandu, Nepal.