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🇳🇵 Nepal /Health & Science

Health Ministry urges hospitals to keep services running amid doctors’ protest

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The Health Ministry has directed all hospitals to maintain healthcare services despite a nationwide protest by doctors.
  • Doctors are halting non-emergency services to demand action against those who attacked healthcare workers and vandalized a hospital.
  • The ministry stated that authorities are taking steps to bring attackers to justice and urged hospitals to continue providing essential, life-saving treatment.

Hospitals across Nepal must continue providing healthcare services without disruption, the Ministry of Health and Food Safety has directed. This order comes as doctors nationwide suspended non-emergency services on Tuesday. The Nepal Medical Association (NMA) initiated the protest, demanding accountability for recent attacks on healthcare workers and vandalism at Narayani Hospital in Birgunj.

the ministry had taken serious note of recent incidents of assault and mistreatment targeting doctors, healthcare workers and health institutions.

— Dr Sameer Kumar AdhikariThe ministry's joint spokesperson stated the government's awareness of the attacks.

The ministry acknowledged the seriousness of the assaults and mistreatment targeting doctors and health institutions. Joint spokesperson Dr. Sameer Kumar Adhikari stated that authorities are actively identifying and pursuing legal action against those responsible. Health Minister Neesha Mehta personally ensured an injured doctor received treatment and visited him at the National Trauma Centre.

healthcare is an essential, life-saving and sensitive service, and that citizens should not face any disruption while seeking treatment.

— Ministry of Health and Food SafetyThe ministry's statement urging hospitals to continue services.

Minister Mehta has instructed security agencies to take strict action against the perpetrators. The ministry emphasized that healthcare is a vital, life-saving service and that citizens should not face barriers to treatment. It also affirmed healthcare workers' right to a safe and respectful working environment, urging all facilities to ensure uninterrupted patient care.

healthcare workers have the right to provide services in a safe and respectful environment.

— Ministry of Health and Food SafetyThe ministry's statement affirming workers' rights.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathmandu Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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