KATHMANDU: Many Nepali nurses have started seeking foreign employment after not receiving proper facilities in the nursing profession at home. Even nurses working at renowned hospitals are leaving their jobs in search of opportunities abroad. Kabita Limbu from Jhiljhile, Jhapa, is one such person.
Limbu has been working as a nurse at Birta City Hospital in Birtamode, Jhapa, for the past two years. She draws a monthly pay of Rs 17,000, which, she says, is only enough to cover basic expenses.
Despite spending a substantial amount of around Rs 1 million on her nursing education, Limbu says she is compelled to seek foreign employment as she is not receiving adequate remuneration in Nepal. “Nursing education costs up to Rs 1 million. However, the monthly salary is only Rs 15,000-Rs 20,000. This is why many nurses are now leaving the profession for greener pastures abroad,” Limbu said. “Since getting a job is also based on favoritism and connections, it leaves youths with no choice but to seek opportunities abroad.”
Limbu is not the only one. Sunita Magar from Dhading, who works at a renowned hospital in Kathmandu, is also preparing to seek foreign employment. She has already submitted her passport to a recruitment company to work as a nurse in the UAE. “My monthly salary is around Rs 20,000, which is barely enough to cover rent and basic expenses. But abroad, I can earn more than Rs 80,000 per month,” Magar said. “Even though life is difficult in a foreign land, at least I will be able to save some money.”
Kabita Ghimire from Gorkha, who works at a private hospital in Kathmandu, said that while nurses working in government hospitals receive at least a minimum salary and facilities, the situation for those working in private hospitals is dire. “Senior nurses are also leaving for abroad due to poor pay and perks. Nurses get up to four times the salary and facilities in foreign countries compared to Nepal,” Ghimire said. “This is why nurses are eager to leave the country after completing their nursing education.”
Ghimire herself is preparing to go to the UK for employment. She passed the exam conducted by the UK government in October last year.
Mana Kumari Rai, the president of the Nursing Association of Nepal, said nurses are leaving the country in droves. “While skilled nurses have ample opportunities abroad, many in Nepal are still unemployed. As a result, many Nepali nurses are quitting their jobs and seeking foreign employment,” Rai said. “Young nurses start preparing for foreign employment right after they complete their studies. Some are even quitting their jobs to go abroad.”
Nepal has 113,376 registered nurses according to the Nepal Nursing Council (NNC), including 73,889 staff nurses and 37,236 auxiliary nurse midwives. More than 30,000 of them have obtained a ‘Good Standing Certificate’ from the NNC to apply for foreign jobs. Likewise, more than 30,000 nurses registered with the NNC have already left for foreign countries.
Megh Nath Bhurtel, the general secretary of the Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies, said nurses have started seeking foreign employment due to issues with salaries and facilities in the nursing profession in Nepal. He added that nurses have recently started quitting their jobs and going abroad as they are not receiving facilities commensurate with their education and expenses.
Bhurtel estimates that 4,000-5,000 Nepali nurses seek foreign employment every year. Most Nepali nurses prefer employment in Europe, the US, Australia, Japan, and Gulf countries, among others.
