Kathmandu [Nepal], August 5 – Activist and nurse Jyoti Ranabhat ended her hunger strike on Wednesday after reaching a 19-point agreement with the Nepal government, concluding a protest that began on July 30 over reforms in the country’s health sector.
The agreement was signed by representatives of the Ministry of Health and Food Safety including Additional Secretary Krishna Shrestha, Senior Medical Superintendent Dr Hemanta Chandra Ojha and Legal Officer Jaya Prakash Subedi.
Under the deal, the ministry will form a task force within seven days to recommend fair pay, improved service conditions and better facilities for healthcare workers, including nurses and midwives employed in government, private, community and teaching hospitals. The panel is expected to complete its work within six months.
The government also agreed to amend guidelines governing the deployment of government scholarship recipients within 30 days. The Ministry of Education and Sports will take steps to provide scholarships for PCL Nursing and Midwifery studies in line with the national Health and Midwifery Strategy.
The agreement further calls for the timely admission process for PCL Nursing and Midwifery programmes and the mandatory implementation of standard nursing practices including patient safety, infection control and nursing documentation in all hospitals. The Health Ministry will also direct health institutions to strengthen monitoring and enforce safe motherhood and reproductive health standards.
