KATHMANDU, Jan 29: Postgraduate resident doctors in Kathmandu have launched a protest. They took to the streets, demanding that Health Minister Pradip Paudel and Education Minister Bidya Bhattarai annul their three-point decision on stipends.
The agitating doctors, who began their protests on Tuesday, staged a sit-in at Maitighar Mandala in the capital on Wednesday. They argue that the ministers' decision will subject them to extreme labor exploitation. On Tuesday, the two ministers decided to write to the concerned agencies, directing them to provide stipends to resident doctors.
As per the decision, Master's level resident doctors will receive at least Rs 25,000 in the first year, Rs 30,000 in the second year, and Rs 35,000 in the third year. This provision will take effect from the Fiscal Year 2081/082 BS.
On November 24, 2024, during the 15th meeting of the Medical Education Commission, Commission Chairman and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli assigned the Health Minister and Education Minister the responsibility of resolving the stipend issue for resident doctors pursuing their Master's degrees in private colleges.