Private medical colleges say they cannot pay nurses government-mandated salaries

KATHMANDU: The Nepal Private Medical and Dental College Association has informed the Ministry of Health and Population that private institutions cannot provide nurses with salaries and benefits equivalent to those in government facilities.

In a letter to the Ministry, Association President Dr. Gyanendra Karki explained that the financial structure, investment model, and operational system of private medical and dental colleges are entirely different from government institutions, making it unfeasible to implement identical pay scales.

The Ministry had earlier, on December 12, 2024, issued a secretary-level directive instructing all health institutions to provide a minimum salary of Rs 34,730 along with corresponding benefits for nurses and other health workers, matching government standards.

Following the directive, nurses at Manipal Medical College in Kaski protested, citing non-compliance with service benefits. The Ministry then issued a follow-up letter directing private colleges to implement the government-mandated pay.

In response, the Association has challenged the directive, stating that it is not financially feasible for private colleges to increase salaries to the government level.