Doctors across Nepal shut outpatient care over assaults on medics

Hundreds of thousands of Nepalis were denied medical treatment Tuesday as doctors nationwide boycotted outpatient services. The protest, organized by the Nepal Medical Association, began after an incident at Narayani Hospital in Birgunj on Saturday. Relatives of a heart patient who died in the emergency ward stormed the hospital, vandalized property, and assaulted doctors.

Dr. Pramod Ram, who was injured in the attack, is recovering in Kathmandu. The Nepal Medical Association expressed disappointment with authorities for the slow response in arresting those involved and taking legal action. The association has called for a boycott of all non-emergency services until stricter security measures are implemented and legal action is taken.

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Halting medical care is not our choice. Physical assaults, and verbal abuse, on 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.

Doctors and health officials at Narayani Hospital have submitted mass resignations, demanding a safe working environment. "Halting medical care is not our choice," said Dr. Sanjeeb Tiwari, senior vice president of the association. "Physical assaults, and verbal abuse, on 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."

Tiwari stated that the association receives reports of two to three cases of physical assaults, verbal abuse, threats, or defamation of doctors weekly. "Over 90 incidents of physical assault and abuse have been reported to the association," he said. "Many cases of physical attacks or verbal abuse go unrecorded, as not all doctors file complaints and some incidents are resolved locally."

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Over 90 incidents of physical assault and abuse have been reported to the association. Many cases of physical attacks or verbal abuse go unrecorded, as not all doctors file complaints and some incidents are resolved locally.