Kathmandu, April 29:

The Nepal Health Professional Federation (NHPF) today withdrew protest programmes against the government’s decision to bar private health institutions from conducting medical check-ups of job seekers to South Korea under Employment Permit System.

As the government promised to allow the private health institutions, besides the four governmental hospitals, to perform medical check-ups, NHPF withdrew the protest today, said Khadga Bahadur Shrestha, NHPF president at a press conference.

After a series of discussions with the government, the Ministry of Labour and Transport Management forwarded a written letter to NHPF, saying it has talked with the Korean side to allow the private institutions perform the medical check-ups from next season, said Shrestha.

The MoLTM has designated Bir Hospital, TU Teaching Hospital, Central Health Lab (Teku) and Patan Hospital as the health institutions to carry out medical check-ups under EPS.

NHPF has been protesting against the government decision since Friday.

A total of 6,768 examinees out of 31,511 applicants have passed the Korean Language Test, first step in getting jobs in South Korea under EPS. According to the process, those candidates are now required to have medical check-ups at the designated health institutions.