प्रधानमन्त्री तथा मन्त्रिपरिषद् कार्यालय सिंहदरबारमा बिहीबार बसेको मन्त्रिपरिषद्को बैठकमा प्रधानमन्त्री सुशीला कार्की र मन्त्रीगण । तस्बिर सौजन्यः प्रधानमन्त्रीको सचिवालय/रासस
The government has formed a committee to address the demands of nursing professionals regarding their remuneration. A 14-member committee has been set up under the coordination of Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Population, Dr. Shreekrishna Shrestha.
Nurses from various private hospitals and medical colleges across the country have been protesting, claiming they are not receiving fair salaries. Prime Minister Sushila Karki, after holding discussions with officials from the Ministry of Health last Thursday, directed them to resolve the issue immediately.
According to Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Bikash Devkota, the committee held its first meeting today and is working to create an environment for the protesting nurses to return to work. He said, “Tihar holidays begin tomorrow. Many staff will be on leave, which will increase the workload. Therefore, we are trying to reach an agreement today and urge the protesting nurses to resume their duties.”
Dr. Devkota informed that the committee must submit a preliminary report within a week. The committee has been tasked with providing suggestions for both immediate and long-term solutions to the issue.
The committee includes Dr. Anup Bastola, head of the Grievance Hearing Unit at the Health Ministry, as a member. Similarly, representatives from the Medical Education Commission, the Nursing and Social Security Division under the Department of Health Services, and the Ministries of Home Affairs, Finance, Labor, and Education are also members of the committee.
Representatives from the Nepal Nursing Council, Nepal Nursing Association, Nepal Medical and Dental College Association, the umbrella organization of private hospitals—Association of Private Health Institutions of Nepal (APHIN), as well as representatives of the protesting nurses, are also included. The head of the Medical Services, Education, and Research Division at the Health Ministry has been appointed as the member secretary.
The nurses are protesting, demanding the minimum salary and benefits determined by the government. The current minimum basic salary set by the government is NPR 34,730.
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