Non-emergency services in Nepal have come to a halt on Tuesday (28th July) after the Nepal Medical Association (NMA) enforced a nationwide shutdown of outpatient departments (OPDs). The shutdown reportedly comes in the aftermath of a violent assault on healthcare staff at Narayani Hospital in Birgunj on Saturday, which was followed by accusations that the police failed to protect the doctors and healthcare workers. The protests have severely impacted medical services across the country.
The NMA held the Nepal government fully responsible for failing to secure healthcare institutions. The association said that the decision to protest was taken after the government failed to take action against the attackers. It further accused the police of intimidation and mistreatment of doctors during the protests. The doctors said that instead of arresting the perpetrators, the police abused and harassed several physicians, including members of the association’s central executive committee and the president of its Narayani chapter.
Tensions peaked on Tuesday when 68 doctors at Narayani Hospital tendered collective resignations to Acting Medical Superintendent Dr. Chitaranjan Shah. According to hospital spokesperson Dr Uday Narayan Singh, 30 of the hospital’s 70 doctors submitted their resignation letters to Medical Superintendent Chittaranjan Sah earlier on Monday.
The medical professionals are demanding immediate action against the perpetrators under the Healthcare Workers Protection Act. The doctors are also demanding the dismissal of Parsa’s Chief District Officer and District Police Chief, accusing them of intimidation during discussions at the District Administration Office.
As per reports, the attack on the doctors at Narayani Hospital was triggered by the death of a patient. The brutal attack left Dr. Pramod Ram severely injured with head trauma; he has since been transferred to Kathmandu’s National Trauma Centre for treatment. “Physical assaults and verbal abuse against our fellow doctors have become frequent. We feel insecure as people threaten to attack wherever they find us, while the authorities concerned do not provide proper security,” Dr Sanjeeb Tiwari, senior vice president of the NMA, said.
As the shutdown has continued on Wednesday, doctors in the Kathmandu Valley will assemble at Maitighar Mandala for a mass rally at 10:00 am, while physicians in other districts will stage sit-ins and deliver protest memorandums to their respective District Administration Offices.
