Doctors' protest cripples health services in BP

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

DHARAN: Health services at the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences have been affected for the last four days due to doctors’ agitation.

Doctors at the hospital halted their services and staged protests leaving thousands of patients high and dry since Thursday demanding security.

Senior doctors, however, have returned to work on humanitarian grounds from today as service seekers were deprived of the treatment. But the protest of junior doctors remained unchanged.

At least 250 patients were treated in the out patient department (OPD) today as senior doctors resumed their work. Similarly, over 22 patients were admitted in the emergency, informed in-charge at the hospital’s police post Sub-Inspector Tilak Giri.

Dr Madhu Karki, who has been leading the agitation, said, “Some doctors have returned to work for the service considering patients condition and the request of the locals.”

During an all-party meeting held today, hospital vice-chancellor Dr Balbhadra Prasad Das and registrar Nanda Kumar Thapa regretted for not being able to provide adequate security to the doctors.

BP Institute Concerned Committee High Level Supervision, Investigation and Coordination Committee held an all-party meeting of agitating doctors, civil society and political parties after the service of the hospital has been severely affected due to staff, nurses and doctors protest since last week.

Dr Das assured that he would provide security to doctors in the coming days. He also said that he would ask the armed police to take necessary measures to prevent attacks on the hospital, to install CC cameras and mobilise security personnel effectively.