Health Ministry urges agitating doctors to return to work

KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Health and Population has appealed to the Nepal Medical Association to withdraw its protest programme and facilitate the return of health workers to regular work. Issuing a statement, MoHP Joint Spokesperson Dr Samir Kumar Adhikari has requested all the doctors and health workers to withdraw all their programmes of agitation and return to their regular duty of health care. NMA decided to stop all health services except emergency services across the country on Sunday in protest against the police assaulting doctors and health workers including senior orthopaedic surgeon Dr Janith Lal Singh of National Trauma Centre, on February 10. Dr Adhikari has also reminded MNA that Nepal Police has already suspended the security personnel involved in assaulting the doctor and investigation into the incident was underway. The ministry has also expressed its concern over the assault of doctors in front of National Trauma Centre. Meanwhile, Spokesperson of District Police Range Kathmandu, Superintendent of Police (SP) Sitaram Rijal, informed that the police personnel baton charging the doctor was suspended after initiating an investigation process into the incident for breaching police professionalism, responsibility and accountability. Senior Head Constable Shambhu Jung Gurung was suspended on Saturday for assaulting Senior Orthopedic Surgeon Dr Singh at National Trauma Centre during the presidential escort on Friday. Senior Head Constable Gurung thrashed Dr Singh for walking on the street while President Bidya Devi Bhandari was returning after addressing the parliament. SP Rijal urged one and all to help neutralise the incident as the dispute between police personnel and on-duty doctors became sensitive. Earlier, Nepal Medical Association (NMA) decided to suspend all the health care services carried out by the government, non-government, private and cooperative health institutions, hospitals, medical colleges and academies across the country except for emergency services. Issuing a press statement, NMA President Dr Lochan Karki said the association’s serious attention was drawn to the attacks on Senior Orthopedic Surgeon Dr Janith Lal Singh and other health workers. READ ALSO:

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