3 April, Kathmandu – Following strong pressure from 14 joint professional health organizations, the government has decided to grant two public holidays per week to hospitals and health institutions. According to this decision, outpatient department (OPD) services at government hospitals across the country will be closed on Saturdays and Sundays. However, emergency and inpatient services will continue to operate 24 hours a day, as stated by the Ministry of Health and Population.
The decision was reached after discussions at the ministry involving Health Minister Nisha Mehta, Health Secretary Dr. Vikas Devkota, and representatives of the 14 professional organizations. According to ministry sources, there is consensus on granting a two-day weekly holiday. “The agreement between the Ministry of Health and the professional organizations is to close services on Saturdays and Sundays,” the source said. “The ministry is preparing an official press release and the formal announcement will be made shortly.”
With OPD services being closed for two days, the government is preparing to expand emergency service capacity, according to ministry insiders. The pressure group led by Dr. Anil Bikram Karki, President of the Nepal Medical Association, had been advocating for health workers to receive the same two-day weekly off as other government employees. They cited increasing workloads and mental stress as reasons and had even issued warnings of protests. Previously, the Cabinet had decided on 22 Chaitra 2078 (early April 2022) to grant all government employees two weekly holidays. However, the Ministry of Health instructed hospitals to continue OPD services on Sundays, which displeased health workers. Following the joint protest threat by health professionals against this stance, the government has now decided to implement the two-day holiday policy at hospitals as well.
