Kathmandu, February 6
The government has expressed a positive stance on addressing the demands of resident doctors, who have been protesting for equal service benefits as government employees.
The government is willing to provide resident doctors with a monthly salary of Rs 48,700, equivalent to that of eighth-level government employees.
A late-night discussion was held on Wednesday at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar, attended by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Education Minister Bidya Bhattarai, Health Minister Pradip Paudel, representatives of private medical institutions, and resident doctors.
A participant in the meeting stated that Prime Minister Oli was supportive of the doctors’ demands. However, a formal agreement will only be reached after discussions with the Medical Education Commission.
Previously, Health Minister Paudel and Education Minister Bhattarai had jointly decided to provide a stipend of Rs 25,000 in the first year, Rs 30,000 in the second year, and Rs 35,000 in the third year. However, after protests from doctors, the government reconsidered the decision.
Despite the positive discussions, the Safe Workplace Struggle Committee coordinator, Dr Sheshraj Ghimire, stated that protest programs would continue until a formal agreement is signed. Resident doctors have also warned of halting academic activities today.
