Kathmandu, 21 Oct: Nurses at two major private hospitals in Pokhara have been protesting for several days, demanding pay equal to that of government health workers. Nurses at Manipal Teaching Hospital in Fulbari have been on strike since October 10 (24 Ashoj), while those at Gandaki Medical College (GMC) in New Bazaar began their protest on October 12 (26 Ashoj). Similarly, nurses at Charak Memorial Hospital in Nagdhunga also joined the agitation from Saturday.
The pay dispute has brought the Nursing Association Nepal and the Association of Private Health Institutions Nepal (AFHIN) face to face. The Nursing Association insists that private hospitals must comply with the government’s circular to provide government-equivalent benefits, while AFHIN claims such a move is “impossible in practice.”
Despite carrying pamphlets demanding fair wages for ten days, no sign of agreement has emerged. According to Muna Silwal, President of the Nursing Association Kaski, no formal dialogue has yet taken place in Pokhara. Only Manipal Hospital has held internal discussions with its nurses, while no talks have occurred at GMC. Silwal said it is intolerable that skilled professionals are paid the same as unskilled workers, adding, “There is extreme labor exploitation in the private sector. Trained nurses who are qualified to work anywhere in the world are getting only Rs 19,000 — it’s unthinkable.”
Hospital Services Affected as Nurses Reject Management’s Pay Proposal
Around 350 nurses work at Manipal and 300 at GMC. Following the strike, both hospitals sent some patients home or referred them elsewhere, depending on their condition. These two private hospitals are the only ones in Pokhara implementing the government’s health insurance program, so patient flow is typically high.
While outpatient services (OPD) remain open, new admissions have been halted. Patients needing hospital care are being referred to other institutions. With services disrupted at both hospitals, the patient load has surged at the Western Regional Hospital under the Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences.
Although patients who can afford private care are managing, insured patients face growing difficulties. If the protest continues, insured patients may need to be referred to Bir Hospital or Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu due to overcrowding.
The hospital management has refused to meet all of the nurses’ demands. Manipal proposed paying between Rs 24,000 and Rs 29,000 depending on qualifications and experience — but nurses rejected the offer, demanding salaries comparable to government nurses (around Rs 40,000).
Manipal proposed four pay grades:
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Bachelor’s degree nurses with one year of experience: Rs 29,587
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PCL (Staff Nurses) with one year of experience: Rs 28,587
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CMA/ANM with one year of experience: Rs 26,587
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Newly recruited nursing staff: Rs 24,287
Currently, nurses at Manipal and GMC earn between Rs 15,000 and Rs 20,000 per month.
Manipal Medical College operator Narayan Paudel argued that it is inappropriate for the government to dictate private sector pay scales. “Under the Labor Act, only minimum wages should be set. Beyond that, the government should not interfere,” he said. “If the Constitution guarantees free healthcare, why doesn’t the government provide doctors and equipment in its own hospitals? We’ve invested with risk — how can we meet every government directive?” Paudel urged the government to consider the costs and investments made by private hospitals before imposing new pay rules.
Government Forms Committee; Dialogue Begins After Temporary Agreement
The government has formed a 14-member committee to address nurses’ demands regarding salary and benefits. The committee, headed by Health Ministry Additional Secretary Prof. Dr. Shreekrishna Shrestha, includes representatives from the Ministries of Home, Finance, Labor, and Education, as well as the Nepal Nursing Council, Nursing Association Nepal, the Nepal Medical and Dental College Association, AFHIN, and striking nurses.
The committee has been instructed to recommend immediate and long-term measures to resolve the issue. According to Health Ministry spokesperson Dr. Prakash Budhathoki, a meeting held on Sunday evening reached an understanding for nurses to return to work while a three-member subcommittee creates a conducive environment for talks.
The working group will submit recommendations within a week after the Tihar festival, based on which the Cabinet will make further decisions. “There is no doubt that the nurses’ demands must be addressed,” Dr. Budhathoki said. “We also need to consider the private hospitals’ concerns. Once the task force submits its suggestions, we will decide how to move forward.”
Meanwhile, the Association of Medical and Dental Colleges Nepal and the Association of Private Hospitals in Nepal (AFHIN) issued a joint statement expressing dissatisfaction after protesters displayed “offensive placards” outside the ministry during the committee meeting. Both organizations blamed the state for the crisis, stating, “This unpleasant situation arose because the government failed to introduce sustainable policies, equal treatment, and clear procedures in time. The state must take full responsibility for the current situation.”
