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🇳🇵 Nepal /Disasters & Emergencies

Nepal doctors halt non-emergency services nationwide over Birgunj attack

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • Nepal's doctors are suspending non-emergency services nationwide to protest the government's failure to protect healthcare workers.
  • The Nepal Medical Association cited a violent attack on doctors at Narayani Hospital in Birgunj and alleged police mistreatment during protests.
  • Doctors at Narayani Hospital are submitting mass resignations, demanding the dismissal of local officials, with a nationwide resignation threat if demands are unmet.

Doctors across Nepal have launched a nationwide shutdown of non-emergency services, protesting what they call the state's failure to protect healthcare workers. The Nepal Medical Association (NMA) announced the action, vowing to escalate protests in the coming days.

The association said the decision to suspend non-essential services was taken in protest against the government's failure to bring the perpetrators to justice.

— Nepal Medical AssociationExplaining the reason for the nationwide service suspension.

The NMA demands the immediate arrest and prosecution of individuals involved in a violent attack on doctors and vandalism at Narayani Hospital in Birgunj on Saturday. The association also condemned alleged police intimidation and mistreatment of physicians during protests, stating authorities verbally abused and harassed medical staff instead of addressing the hospital attack.

The NMA also condemned what it described as police intimidation and mistreatment of doctors during the protests.

— Nepal Medical AssociationDetailing grievances against authorities.

At Narayani Hospital in Birgunj, doctors have begun submitting mass resignations. They are demanding the resignation of the chief district officer and the district police chief of Parsa following the attack. According to hospital spokesperson Dr. Uday Narayan Singh, 30 of the hospital's 70 doctors submitted their resignation letters Monday night. The remaining doctors are expected to follow suit.

The association said such actions by the authorities were unacceptable and warned that further protest programmes would follow unless those involved in the attack are arrested and legal action is taken against them.

— Nepal Medical AssociationIssuing a warning about future actions.

Protesting doctors insist that those responsible for the attack must be brought to justice and that the hospital must ensure a safe working environment. They have warned that if the Parsa officials do not resign by Tuesday, doctors nationwide will submit their resignations in solidarity.

30 of the hospital’s 70 doctors submitted their resignation letters to Medical Superintendent Chittaranjan Sah at around 10pm on Monday.

— Dr Uday Narayan SinghReporting on the number of doctors who resigned at Narayani Hospital.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathmandu Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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