Nepal doctors announce boycott of non-emergency services

Kathmandu

The Nepal Medical Association (NMA) has announced a nationwide boycott of non-emergency medical services, effective Friday. The strike will affect both private and government hospitals, medical colleges, and clinics, with the exception of emergency and intensive care services. This move will impact tens of thousands of patients across the country, depriving them of necessary medical treatment.

The decision follows ongoing protests by resident doctors in private medical colleges, who are demanding that their allowances be equal to those of their counterparts in government-run colleges. The protests intensified after a demonstration on Thursday at Maitighar in Kathmandu, where doctors cordoned off district administration offices. They accused the government of failing to provide the agreed-upon allowances and exploiting their labor.

Earlier, the Medical Education Commission, led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, held a meeting to address the issue. The Commission had decided to align allowances for postgraduate students in private colleges with those in government colleges. However, private medical colleges have refused to implement the decision, citing financial constraints and lack of legal obligation.

Dr. Shesh Raj Ghimire, coordinator of the Safe Workplace Struggle Committee for Health Workers, condemned the exploitation of doctors and demanded that the Commission’s decision be enforced. In response, Nepal’s Health Minister Pradip Paudel expressed support for the protesting doctors but emphasized that more than just commitment was needed, urging the government to implement the decision.