Private Medical and Dental Colleges Reject Pay Parity Directive

Private medical and dental colleges have objected to the government’s recent directive on the salaries of health workers.

In a statement issued Monday, October 13, the Association of Private Medical and Dental Colleges of Nepal said it was “impractical and impossible” for private medical institutions to offer health workers the same pay and benefits as those provided in public hospitals under the current structure.

Earlier, the Ministry of Health and Population had urged all health institutions to align the salaries, services and facilities of their employees with government standards. According to ministry spokesperson Dr Prakash Budhathoki, a circular was issued to all government hospitals, medical colleges, and community and private hospitals after several institutions failed to implement an earlier directive.

The issue has drawn attention amid ongoing protests by nurses at Pokhara-based Manipal Teaching Hospital, who are demanding better pay and working conditions.

The association, however, maintained that private medical and dental colleges already follow the existing labour laws and regulations, offering regular salary increases based on experience, efficiency, responsibility and service. “It is evident that in some cases experienced nurses and health workers are provided with salaries higher than those fixed by the government,” the statement said.

It further noted that government institutions receive direct investment and grants for infrastructure, equipment and human resources, with allowances and benefits covered by the national budget. In contrast, “private institutions must manage such expenses through their own income and sources, with most operating through bank loans,” it added.

The association stressed that the private sector has been a consistent investor in medical education and the improvement of healthcare quality. It warned that enforcement of the new directive could jeopardise financial sustainability, affect teaching standards, disrupt services, and threaten job security.

The statement called for dialogue and cooperation among the ministry, relevant authorities and the private sector to reach a solution that is “practical, sustainable and in everyone’s interest.”