Hospitals and healthcare institutions across Nepal shut down all services except emergency care on Monday, following a nationwide protest called by the Nepal Medical Association (NMA). The protest comes in response to recent verdicts issued by the Consumer Court in cases of alleged medical negligence.
At Bir Hospital, the country’s oldest and one of the busiest, only emergency cases and follow-up patients requiring urgent attention are being treated. “We are currently providing only emergency services,” said the hospital’s director Dr. Dilip Sharma. He expressed hope that the ongoing dispute would be resolved soon to restore normal operations.
The protest marks an escalation in the medical community's response to recent court decisions that health professionals say unfairly criminalize clinical practice. Last week, doctors and health workers across the country had demonstrated their dissatisfaction by wearing black armbands while on duty.
The controversy stems from a series of rulings issued by the Consumer Court, including a decision ordering Grande International Hospital and its doctors to pay Rs 5.7 million in compensation for alleged negligence. Similar rulings have seen Himal Hospital and its staff fined Rs 14.5 million, and Om Hospital fined Rs 5.7 million.
Speaking on behalf of the NMA, General Secretary Dr. Sanjeev Tiwari stated that healthcare is a highly sensitive, science-based profession that cannot be judged by the same standards as other commercial sectors. He emphasized that medical misconduct and negligence cases should fall under the jurisdiction of the Nepal Medical Council, the authorized regulatory body for medical professionals.
The NMA has urged the government, including the Ministry of Health and Population, the judiciary, and other concerned authorities, to review the recent court decisions. The association has also called for the creation of a safe and enabling environment for healthcare professionals to deliver care without fear of legal reprisals.
The NMA warned that it may intensify protests if its demands are not addressed, potentially deepening the disruption to health services nationwide. -- RSS
Read: Patients Suffer as Protesting Doctors Halt Non-emergency Services
