Kathmandu, March 12

Nepal Medical Association, a professional organisation of doctors across the country, has expressed serious concern about power-cuts imposed on hospitals.

The NMA warned of agitation across the country if uninterrupted power supply was not resumed to hospitals within 75 hours. “Initially, doctors in all medical institutions will work wearing black band around their wrist as a symbolic protest and close OPD services if the government fails to address their demand within the given deadline.

Further failure will compel us to make public stronger forms of protest,” read the statement. It has also called on all doctors to remain prepared for protest programmes.

All hospitals had been enjoying immunity to load-shedding and benefiting from uninterrupted power supply till recently given the sensitivity of the sector.

“The abrupt move of the Nepal Electricity Authority to stop supply power to private hospitals has made it difficult for them to provide service to the patients,” a press statement issued by Dr Mukti Ram Shrestha, NMA general secretary, said.

The NMA has taken strong exception to the NEA move and said that it had submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on March 4 urging him not to impose load-shedding on hospitals.

“As the move to discontinue power supply to hospitals through dedicated feeder lines is unlawful, Prime Minister Oli directed the related agencies to resume uninterrupted power supply to the sector,” Dr Shrestha said in the statement, adding “It is unfortunate that the directive issued by the executive head of the country has yet to be implemented.

It is sad to say that private hospitals are being discriminated against in the federal democratic system.”