Kathmandu, June 2

Nepal Medical Association, a professional organisation of doctors, has put forth a charter of 11-point demand in the interest of the overall health sector of the country.

A press release issued today by NMA said it had already submitted its memorandum of demands to the PM, Speaker, deputy prime ministers and lawmakers. The demands include appointment of health secretary from among senior doctors or health workers as per section 19 of the Health Services Act, revision in facilities provided to health workers as per the standards adopted by other SAARC countries and creation of necessary postings of doctors to implement the concept of ‘One Village, One Doctor’.

The NMA has also demanded that the government provide private health institutions tax exemption on the purchase of medical equipment, guarantee health insurance to all Nepalis, make tax recovered from general public and health workers contemporary and grant duty exemption on the purchase of vehicle as incentives to doctors who have been serving for more than seven years and guarantee full-time jobs to doctors, among other things.

NMA has also warned that the government would be held responsible for any consequences arising out of its failure to address its demands.