Gandaki government forms probe committee over alleged bribe demand in hospital upgrade approval

Pokhara, September 21, 2026 — The Gandaki provincial government has formed an investigation committee after allegations of bribe bargaining emerged in connection with approval to upgrade Padma Nursing Home in Pokhara.

The provincial government has also removed Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Yuwanidhi Basula from his responsibilities and transferred him to the Office of the Chief Minister on deputation. The decision was taken after the names of the former health minister, the secretary and ministry employees were linked to alleged irregularities in granting the hospital upgrade approval.

Provincial government spokesperson and Minister for Economic Affairs Jit Bahadur Sherchan said the Cabinet decided to investigate the matter.

Sherchan said a three-member investigation committee, coordinated by an undersecretary at the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers, had been formed to examine the legal provisions and practices concerning approvals and hospital upgrades granted by the Health Ministry over the previous two years. The committee has been instructed to submit its report within 15 days.

The provincial government has also decided to write to the Pokhara office of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) requesting a detailed investigation into the hospital upgrade case.

As the matter is currently under investigation, implementation of decisions granting hospital upgrade approvals has been suspended for the time being until the alleged irregularities are clarified.