KATHMANDU: The Nursing Association of Nepal has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the government to address the demands of nurses, including salary adjustments and other benefits.

In a statement released on Sunday, the association warned that if their demands are not met within 48 hours, all nursing services—except emergency care—will be halted across the country.

The statement declared, “If our demands are not addressed within 48 hours, we will completely suspend all nursing services, except emergency ones, in government, private, non-governmental, medical colleges, and health institutions nationwide.”

The association also cautioned authorities against exerting any kind of pressure, intimidation, or threat on nurses who are already engaged in protests.

Earlier, on November 1, the Ministry of Health and Population had held talks with the association and agreed to ensure minimum salary parity with government nurses along with other service benefits.

However, the talks failed to reach consensus on other points, leading the agitating nurses to surround the association’s office in protest.

Following further discussions on Sunday, the association and protesting nurses agreed to continue their movement.

Based on that agreement, the Nepal Nursing Association has now given the government a 48-hour ultimatum to fulfill the nurses’ demands.