Underpaid Pokhara nurses and low-paying hospitals dig in as standoff drags on
Summary
Nurses at private hospitals in Pokhara have been on strike demanding wages equivalent to government nurses, causing service disruption and sparking nationwide debate on labor rights in healthcare.
Key Points
- Nurses at Manipal Teaching Hospital and Gandaki Medical College in Pokhara have been striking since October 10 over wage disparities with private hospitals.
- The nurses demand salaries equal to government nurses, approximately Rs40,000, while private hospitals claim it's financially unfeasible.
- The strike has disrupted services at key hospitals enrolled in the government’s Health Insurance Programme, affecting about 1,200 patients.
- The government formed a 14-member committee including various ministries and associations to address the dispute and recommend solutions.
