Kathmandu, April 24 -- Thousands of contract employees serving under the Ministry of Health and Population lost jobs following the decision of the erstwhile Sushila Karki-led non-partisan government to dismiss all those appointees hired mainly due to their political connections.

The incumbent Rastriya Swatantra Party's government, led by Balendra Shah, has not only barred the hiring of contract employees but also lowered budget ceilings across federal, provincial, and local levels for the upcoming fiscal year. The move is likely to affect most of the public health programmes.

Safe motherhood, one of Nepal's priority health programmes credited with saving hundreds of maternal lives, is likely to be hit hard by the government's decision t...