The Government of Nepal has suspended the implementation of the proposed 3% Education Equity Levy and Health Equity Levy on private education and healthcare institutions after facing strong public opposition.

According to the government, imposing the 3% equity levy at this stage could have increased the financial burden on students, patients, and their families, making education and healthcare services more expensive. The decision was made following consultations with Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle.

In its official statement, the government emphasized that it remains committed to serving the public interest and ensuring good governance while protecting citizens' access to quality education and healthcare.

The government clarified that the original objective of the proposed levy was to improve access to quality education and healthcare in remote and underserved areas, support Dalit, marginalized, and economically disadvantaged students, expand health insurance coverage, and broaden the country's tax base.

However, officials acknowledged that the concerns raised by citizens and stakeholders were taken seriously. The government stated that it would continue engaging with the public and make necessary policy adjustments before considering similar measures in the future.

At the same time, the government reaffirmed its commitment to implementing policies requiring private hospitals to allocate 10% of their beds and private colleges and universities to reserve 10% of their seats for economically disadvantaged citizens through a transparent and fair process.

The government added that it remains open to reviewing and revising policies whenever necessary, placing citizens' interests at the center of its decision-making process.