The Health Thread
In an era of instant information, the quality of health journalism determines the quality of public well-being. The Health Thread, based in Kathmandu, was established to bridge a critical gap in the modern media landscape. While our roots are in Nepal, our perspective is global.
We realized that whether you are in Kathmandu or London, the challenge remains the same: separating verified medical science from viral noise.
"To honor this responsibility, The Health Thread has voluntarily adopted the Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI) standards. Initiated by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the JTI is a global transparency benchmark. Our participation ensures that our internal processes are not just promised, but are publicly disclosed and verifiable."
We built this platform for readers who demand accuracy. We do not simply aggregate news; we curate evidence-based insights to provide the "thread" that connects complex health data to your daily life.
Our Commitment to Ethical Health Journalism
To ensure the highest standards of integrity, select content on The Health Thread is evaluated by our dedicated Medical Review Panel. This rigorous internal process ensures that our reporting reflects current medical standards and global scientific consensus.
Clinical Accuracy and Verification
We cross-reference every health claim against peer-reviewed journals and international regulatory guidelines. In the field of health journalism, accuracy is not just a goal—it is a responsibility.
Radical Objectivity
Our review process is meticulously designed to filter out bias. We ensure a balanced presentation of data, providing you with the facts needed to make informed decisions without the influence of commercial agendas.
Leadership and Professional Oversight
High-quality health journalism requires strong governance. Our leadership ensures that every article meets strict standards for structure, professional rigor, and factual integrity.
Ramesh Adhikari, MBA, PMP®
Publisher & Managing Director
As the Publisher & Managing Director of The Health Thread, Ramesh Adhikari is responsible for the editorial governance and the operational integrity of the publication.
Professional Qualifications: Holds an MBA from Avondale University (Australia), and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP)®.
Editorial Responsibility: Manages the implementation of the organization's Editorial Guidelines and oversees the accuracy and transparency of all published content.
Complaints & Accountability: Serves as the designated senior lead for reviewing editorial complaints and ensuring that any necessary corrections or clarifications are issued in a timely manner.
Our Editorial Standard of Care
In health journalism, accuracy is not just a preference—it is a patient safety issue. Unlike general news, medical information impacts lives. Therefore, The Health Thread operates under a strict Scientific Validation Protocol that goes beyond standard reporting.
We do not wait for external validation; we impose it on ourselves through five core pillars:
1. Evidence-Based Sourcing: We do not publish medical opinions as fact. Every health claim must be backed by a citation from a peer-reviewed journal, a medical registry, or an official health guideline (e.g., Nepal Medical Council, WHO).
2. Total Editorial Independence: Our health reporting is firewalled from our revenue. Advertisers and sponsors have zero access to our editorial team and zero influence over our content.
3. Clinical & Expert Verification: Content involving medical advice, treatment protocols, or public health policy undergoes rigorous review. We verify data against the latest clinical findings to ensure our readers receive actionable, up-to-date information.
4. Accountability & Corrections: If a factual error is discovered, we do not delete it silently. We update the article with a clear "Correction Notice" explaining what was changed and why.
5. Global Transparency Standard: We are a disclosed participant in the Journalism Trust Initiative. Our ownership, editorial governance, and ethical protocols are machine-readable and open to public scrutiny.
To uphold these standards, we rely on the voluntary expertise of our Board of Reviewers—a distinguished group of clinicians, researchers, and policy experts who validate our content.
Our Review Panel
20+ distinguished clinicians, researchers, and public health professionals from institutions including Harvard, Stanford, Hiroshima University, and Tribhuvan University.
Medical Professionals
Dr. Prakash Paudel, FCPS
Consultant Neurosurgeon & Spine Specialist
Gold Medalist in Neurosurgery with Fellowships from Canada and Germany
Dr. Ram Prasad Neupane, MD
Assistant Professor, Tribhuvan University (IOM)
2016 International Emergency Scholarship Award recipient
Dr. Nabin Bahadur Basnet, PhD, FISN
Consultant Nephrologist & Interventional Specialist
Ph.D. from Hiroshima University; Nepal Bidhya Bhusan Awardee
Dr. Prajjwal Pyakurel, MD
Cardiovascular Epidemiologist & Assistant Professor, BPKIHS
Lown Scholar, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Dr. Basudha Shrestha
Senior Consultant Medical Microbiologist
PhD in Medical Microbiology, Principal Investigator ACORN Surveillance-AMR
Dr. Binita Kharel, MD
Internal Medicine & AI Medicine Specialist
Double Board Certified (ABIM & ABAIM); Stanford University AI Certified.
Dr. Rojina Shilpakar
Deputy Medical Director & Consultant Surgeon
WHO Guideline Development Group Member; Harvard Medical School Leadership Alumna
Dr. Aayush Shrestha, MS
Consultant Orthopedic & Spine Surgeon
Fellow of Spine Health International; Member of North American Spine Society
Dr. Kamal Gautam, MD
Executive Director, TPO Nepal & Clinical Asst. Professor, GWU (USA)
Faculty at George Washington University; Joint Secretary of PAN
Dr. Asmita Rayamajhi, MD
Radiation & Medical Oncologist
Royal College (UK) & European Medical Oncology Certified
Dr. Asmita Pandey, MD
Specialist in Reproductive Medicine & ART
Editorial Board Member for The Green Journal (ACOG); Young Achievers Award (IFS)
Dr. Erena Pradhan, MS
Consultant Urologist & Researcher
Top-ranked Specialist in Urology & General Surgery (Kathmandu University)
Astha Paudel
PhD Candidate Biomedical Engineering Researcher & Peer Reviewer
Top-cited author in International Journal of Biomaterials; Peer Reviewer for Ethnobotany Research and Applications.
Dr. Sumit Kumar Yadav
Emergency Medicine and Surgery
Medical Officer at Chitwan Medical College
Public Health Professionals
Prof. Dr. Kishor Adhikari, PhD
Head of MPH Program, Chitwan Medical College
PhD in Public Health; Professor and Lead in MPH Education
Dr. Mukti Thapaliya, PhD
Inclusive Education Specialist (New Zealand)
Ph.D. from University of Canterbury; RTLB Specialist in Auckland
Sujata Shakya, MPH, PhD
Assistant Professor, IOM & Researcher, Tampere University
Faculty at Tribhuvan University; International Research background in Finland
Shanti Bajracharya
Associate Professor, NAIHS
Associate Professor at the Nepalese Army Institute of Health Sciences; Decades of clinical and academic leadership
Sabina Maharjan
Clinical Psychologist, TPO Nepal
M.Phil. with Distinction (TUTH/IOM); Clinical Lead for UNHCR & UNICEF projects
Sanjogta Thapa Magar
Microbiology Officer, Kathmandu Metropolitan City
Master's from St. Xavier's College; Municipal Microbiology Officer for Kathmandu
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Health Thread?
The Health Thread is Nepal's evidence-based health journalism platform, founded in 2020 in Kathmandu. We cover IPAC, disease outbreaks, clinical research, and public health with strict medical review standards. Our platform is JTI-certified and features a 20+ member Medical Review Panel.
Who reviews articles on The Health Thread?
Articles are reviewed by our 20+ member Medical Review Panel, which includes Harvard and Stanford alumni, FCPS and MD-credentialed physicians, PhD researchers, and public health specialists from institutions like Tribhuvan University, BPKIHS, Hiroshima University, and George Washington University.
Is The Health Thread a reliable source for health information?
Yes. We follow strict editorial standards including evidence-based sourcing, total editorial independence, clinical verification, and transparent corrections. We are a disclosed participant in the Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI) by Reporters Without Borders.
What is the Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI)?
The JTI is a global transparency standard created by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). We voluntarily adopted JTI standards to ensure our editorial processes are publicly disclosed and verifiable, providing readers with assurance about the integrity of our health reporting.
Does The Health Thread cover all of South Asia?
While we are based in Kathmandu, Nepal, our coverage extends across South Asia including India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and the Maldives. We cover global health developments with regional relevance to South Asian readers.
How can I contact The Health Thread?
You can reach our editorial team at articles@thehealththread.com or radhikari@thehealththread.com.