Kathmandu, October 14
The Association of Private Medical and Dental Colleges of Nepal has stated that it cannot provide nurses with salaries and benefits equivalent to those in government hospitals.
In a letter to the Ministry of Health, the association said that the financial structure, investment model, and service operation system of private colleges are entirely different from those of government institutions, making it impossible to offer equal pay.
“The government institutions receive direct funding, infrastructure, manpower, allowances, and other benefits from the state, whereas private colleges must manage expenses from their own income and resources,” the statement read.
On December 12, 2024 (Mangsir 27, 2081), the ministry had decided to set a minimum monthly salary of Rs 34,730 for all nurses and healthcare workers, instructing private institutions to ensure pay and benefits are not less than those of government employees.
Following the directive, nurses from several institutions, including Manipal Medical College, have taken to the streets, saying they have not received the mandated salary.
After repeated protests, the ministry again instructed private medical colleges and institutions to comply with the government pay scale. In response, the association sent a letter saying the increase was not feasible.
Many nurses have reported earning only around Rs 15,000 per month, far below the government standard. They also said they have not received risk allowances or extra payments for additional work hours.
While the government’s fifth-level salary scale is Rs 34,730, most nurses at Manipal Teaching Hospital claim to be earning only about half that amount. Even long-serving nurses have not received government-equivalent benefits.
Currently, nurses at Manipal in Pokhara are staging a protest wearing black armbands, demanding fair and dignified compensation.
