Tula Raj Sunuwar
Under Secretary, Nepal Government
Who I Am
I am Tula Raj Sunuwar — a civil servant, public policy professional, health policy reformer, researcher, and writer from Nepal. I currently serve as an Under Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, working in PM Balen's Secretariat. My work focuses on public policy, good governance, citizen-centred service delivery, and government reform.
My research interests include Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR), Health Technology Assessment (HTA), health policy reform, and better government. As the Director of ISPOR Nepal Regional Chapter, I am committed to promoting evidence-based health policy and contributing to a stronger, more responsive public sector in Nepal.
Early Life & Background
I was born in Khijikati, a remote village in Okhaldhunga, into an indigenous community where life was simple, humble, and deeply connected to culture, land, and family. My childhood was shaped by discipline, sacrifice, and service, as my family background was rooted in the Army and Police.
I grew up in a joint family with five siblings, where sharing, caring, and struggling together were part of everyday life. Like many rural families in Nepal, people from my village often had to leave home and go abroad in search of work, income, and better opportunities. Their sacrifices taught me from an early age that dreams are often built through distance, pain, responsibility, and hope.
My journey to education was full of hardship. Every day, I walked to reach school and returned home again in the evening — nearly one hour each way for primary school, two hours each way for lower secondary, and almost three hours each way for secondary school. Those long walks through hills, narrow trails, dust, and rain became the foundation of my patience, discipline, resilience, and determination.
Education
My educational journey has been multidisciplinary — spanning public policy, public administration, sociology, health economics, and governance. Each degree has deepened my capacity to serve Nepal with greater knowledge and purpose.
Professional Focus
My work is guided by three core pillars:
Research
Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR), Health Technology Assessment (HTA), health policy reform, public service delivery, and evidence-informed decision-making.
Advocacy
Evidence-based health policy, accountable governance, citizen-centred public service, and inclusive development through national and international networks.
Community
Public health awareness, indigenous dignity, community empowerment, and social service through professional and community engagements across Nepal.
Current Work
I currently work in PM Balen's Secretariat, contributing to the national mission of building a more responsive, accountable, and service-oriented government. In this role, I support policy coordination, preparation of briefing materials, follow-up on priority government decisions, inter-agency communication, and monitoring of public service delivery issues.
My work focuses on making government actions faster, clearer, and more citizen-centred. Being part of Team Balen inspires me to contribute to reform-oriented leadership and practical solutions. My commitment is to support a government that listens to people, responds to their needs, solves real problems, and works every day for a better Nepal.