KATHMANDU: The government has reached an agreement with protesting nurses who had been demanding fair wages.

The consensus was achieved during talks held today at the Ministry of Health and Population between ministry officials and representatives of the nursing sector.

According to ministry spokesperson Dr. Prakash Budhathoki, nurses will suspend their protest programs starting Sunday, and the government has agreed to implement the measures discussed during the negotiations.

He stated, “Private medical colleges and large private hospitals have agreed to pay the minimum salary of Rs 34,730 starting from the month of October.”

Additionally, private hospitals will provide 80% of the salary based on capacity initially and will classify hospitals monthly to gradually bring payments in line with government standards.

Dr. Budhathoki added that a task force formed to study the issue and provide recommendations will submit its report within a month, after which remaining hospitals will also be required to pay full salaries according to government norms.

Earlier, the government had formed a 14-member committee to address nurses’ demands. Today’s talks were attended by Health Minister Dr. Sudha Sharma Gautam, ministry secretary Dr. Bikas Devkota, spokesperson Dr. Budhathoki, as well as officials from the Nepal Nursing Association and private medical colleges.