KATHMANDU:- Protesting health workers and the government reached a five-point agreement on Monday.

A three-member negotiation committee formed by the Ministry of Health and Population started talks with the Joint Struggle Committee and finalised the agreement.

Representatives who signed the agreement included Michael Devkota, President of the Nepal Dental Science Hygienists Association; Tej Prasad Dulal, Acting President of the Nepal Public Health Association; Rajendra Khadka, President of the Medical Laboratory Association of Nepal; Rameshwar Prasad, President of the Nepal CMA Association; Dataram Adhikari, President of the Health Association of Nepal; Nepal CMA Association representative Kapil Khanal; and Ishwar Chapagain.

The government’s negotiation team included ministry spokesperson Dr Prakash Budhathoki, division chief Dr Bhim Prasad Sapkota and hospital nursing administrator Nujan Sharma.

In the agreement, the Ministry of Health and Population agreed to fulfil the demands raised by the Joint Struggle Committee, which had launched an indefinite hunger strike seeking the appointment of members to the Nepal Health Professional Council in line with Section 4(2) of the Health Professional Council Act, 1996.

The ministry committed to completing the required legal procedures to add members recommended by the council in accordance with the Act.

The ministry also agreed to ensure salaries and allowances as per prior agreements for all categories of health workers—including nursing, laboratory, dental and general medical staff—working in private and community health institutions.

It further agreed to complete the necessary procedures and prepare guidelines and working procedures to provide risk allowances to contract-based personnel working in government health institutions.

The agreement also states that the ministry will implement without delay the report submitted by the task force formed on minimum remuneration and service facilities for nurses and health workers.

The ministry will also expand provincial-level monitoring committees by including representatives from other professional organisations to ensure inclusive oversight of implementation.

Following the agreement, Gopal Upadhyay, Vice-President of the Nepal CMA Association, withdrew his indefinite hunger strike. Upadhyay, a central committee member of the association, had started the hunger strike on Jan 14 on behalf of the joint struggle committee of five health organisations, pressing for the fulfilment of various demands.