KATHMANDU, April 19: The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) has warned doctors and health workers working under it that it is illegal for them to work full-time in private health institutions.

Issuing a notice on Friday, Health Secretary Madhusudan Burlakoti urged the doctors and health workers working with the ministry not to work full-time in private health facilities, stating doing so is illegal.

"The ministry's serious attention has been drawn towards the complaints that doctors and health workers working under the ministry are working full-time in private health institutions operating in the country, and in the government-run and private health institutions abroad, either by getting or not getting their leave approved," reads the appeal.

It further states: "The ministry requests the doctors and health workers as well as medical staff involved in such employment to abide by the law and  refrain from being involved in illegal activities, as working full-time in private health institutions is against the existing laws and statutes."