Kathmandu—The Government of Nepal has introduced new health screening guidelines for Nepalese workers seeking foreign employment. These revised standards were implemented following concerns over negligence in the health examination process of outbound migrant workers.

The newly issued protocol outlines a comprehensive list of mandatory health and laboratory tests that every worker must undergo before departing for employment abroad. The procedures have been updated in accordance with a minister-level decision made during a meeting of the expert committee formed under the Foreign Employment Regulations on Jestha 23.

According to the Ministry of Labour, Employment, and Social Security, the revisions reflect the increased health screening standards required by major destination countries, including Malaysia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and several European nations.

Laboratories conducting these tests must maintain up-to-date records of the following:

Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for tests conducted

Internal Quality Control Assessment (IQA) documentation

External Quality Control Assessment (EQA) documentation

Records of reagent purchases

Daily temperature logs of refrigerators used for sample storage

Maintenance records of machinery and equipment

Purchase records of machinery and equipment

Proof of institutional ownership of medical equipment

Health screening reports of migrant workers

These updated protocols aim to enhance transparency, accountability, and the overall quality of health assessments for Nepali citizens migrating for employment.