Private Medical Colleges Propose Rs 30,000 Minimum Pay for Nurses

As nurses across Nepal continue their protests for fair pay and improved benefits, private medical colleges have proposed introducing a minimum monthly salary of Rs 30,000 for nurses.

The proposal, prepared by the Association of Private Medical and Dental Colleges of Nepal, outlines a range of policy measures to address persistent issues in nursing and medical education. 

It recommends establishing minimum pay scales for nurses, technicians, and doctors, along with reforms in taxation, financing, and long-term development of the health education sector.

Dr Gyanendra Man Singh Karki, president of the association, said the proposed salary structure had been designed to accommodate hospitals of all sizes and would be formally endorsed by the association’s board before being submitted to the government.

“We will finalise the proposal at our board meeting on Wednesday,” Karki said. 

The proposal also calls for mandatory enrolment of healthcare workers in the Social Security Fund, and legal provisions to ensure minimum pay, working hours, and insurance coverage for newly graduated nurses to guarantee job security and professional safety.

Among other recommendations, the association has urged the government to remove VAT on imported medical equipment, offer concessional loans to medical colleges similar to those provided to the agriculture sector, and introduce a time-based electricity tariff system to reduce operational costs.

It further suggests allowing private medical colleges to collaborate with government hospitals, requiring them to allocate at least 50 percent of teaching hospital beds for public health services, and maintaining the 15 percent government scholarship quota for medical students.

The proposal also recommends prioritising domestic students for MBBS, BDS, nursing, and other health education programmes, with foreign students admitted directly only in any remaining seats. According to college operators, this approach would not only safeguard opportunities for Nepali students but also increase foreign currency inflows.

The move comes amid growing tension between private medical institutions and the government over salary regulations. In a statement issued Monday, October 13, the association said it was “impractical and impossible” for private institutions to match the pay and benefits offered by public hospitals under the current system.

Earlier, the Ministry of Health and Population had directed all health institutions to align their employees’ salaries and benefits with government standards. According to ministry spokesperson Dr Prakash Budhathoki, the directive was reissued after several institutions failed to comply with an earlier circular.