Nepal UK
Kathmandu - Nurses working in various private hospitals and colleges in Nepal went on strike, demanding equal pay, allowances and benefits at par with their counterparts in government institutions.
The protest, which began two weeks ago at Gandaki Medical College and Manipal College in Pokhara, has now spread to other private hospitals, disrupting their operations.
While nurses say they are forced to work under poor pay and benefits, representatives of private hospitals and medical colleges argue that they lack the financial resources to offer government-level salaries and facilities.
Recently, nurses from both private and government hospitals and colleges have joined the protest, also raising concerns about professional safety.
Nepal Nursing Association (NNA) President Prof Chandrakala Sharma said the Association has been leading the movement since October 21.
Due to the ongoing protest, services at several hospitals and health institutions have been disrupted. From October 21 to 28, nurses put black armbands during work, and since October 29, they have halted all non-emergency services for two hours every morning from 10 to 12. They say the protest will continue until their demands are met.
The interim government has formed a 14-member task force led by Additional Health Secretary Shree Krishna Shrestha to address the issue. The task force, which includes representatives from the Ministries of Health, Finance, Law, and Industry, as well as private institutions and the protesting nurses, met on Thursday to discuss possible solutions.
