Kathmandu: Health services across the country have been disrupted after nurses from private hospitals and colleges went on strike demanding equal pay, allowances, and benefits as those received by government-employed nurses.
The protest, which began two weeks ago in Pokhara’s Gandaki Medical College and Manipal College, has now spread nationwide. Nurses have submitted a 15-point demand calling for legal reforms to ensure fair pay, job security, night duty allowances, and permanent nursing positions in schools.
Nepal Nursing Association (NNA) President Prof. Chandrakala Sharma said the association has been leading the movement since October 21. From October 29, nurses have been halting non-emergency services for two hours daily, warning the protest will continue until their demands are met.
Talks held on Thursday between government ministries, private hospital representatives, and protest leaders ended without agreement.
Private hospitals said they lack the financial capacity to match government pay scales, while the NNA accused them of violating directives to provide at least the minimum salary equivalent to government nurses.
In response, the government has formed a 14-member task force led by Additional Health Secretary Shree Krishna Shrestha to address the ongoing dispute.