Health Ministry Staffing Exceeds Approved Positions by Over 800 Employees

May 19, Kathmandu – It has been revealed that the Ministry of Health and its affiliated agencies have employed more staff than the number of approved positions. According to the annual report from the Office of the Auditor General, the ministry has created 841 additional positions beyond the sanctioned quota and filled them with employees. Across 46 entities including government offices, boards, and hospitals affiliated with the ministry, there are 4,272 approved positions, with 4,183 currently staffed and 89 vacancies remaining. Nevertheless, the ministry has appointed staff to 841 additional positions created outside the approved structure.
Furthermore, hospitals under the ministry have no available records at the ministry regarding employees appointed and paid salaries internally from their own funds. Section 7 (a) of the Nepal Health Services Act, 1996 (2053 BS), outlines provisions concerning the staffing and appointment of health service personnel. The report emphasizes the necessity of managing staff based on workload analysis, in accordance with legal frameworks.