KATHMANDU, Nov 6: The government has granted an additional one-month extension to the taskforce formed to determine facilities for nurses equivalent to those provided in government service.
According to Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) Spokesperson Dr Prakash Budhathoki, the extension has been provided as per the agreement reached between the government and the agitating nurses’ group. He said the taskforce requires more time to conduct a detailed study on nurses’ benefits and other related issues and to prepare a concrete action plan for implementation. The deadline has now been extended until December 1.
“The taskforce is currently working as per the agreement to determine facilities for nurses,” Dr Budhathoki said, “Once the taskforce submits its report, the revised facilities will be implemented.”
Municipalities without facilities
The government had formed a 14-member taskforce led by the Ministry’s Joint Secretary Dr Shreekrishna Shrestha to study and recommend nurses’ facilities. The taskforce will categorize hospitals and determine the service facilities accordingly before submitting the report. Coordinator Shrestha stated that immediate and implementable measures will be included in the report at the earliest.
“The Minister has assured that even if legal amendments are required, a bill will be introduced to finalize nurses’ benefits,” Shrestha said, “We are preparing the report by evaluating both short-term and long-term measures as per the agreement.”
As per the agreement, major hospitals and medical colleges will provide salaries equivalent to the fifth level starting from Kartik, while other private and community hospitals will provide 80 percent of the fifth-level equivalent facilities.
