Talks between govt, NMA teams end inconclusively

Kathmandu, September 23

The meeting between representatives of the government and Nepal Medical Association regarding the Cabinet decision to formulate a law which would require doctors to compensate patients or their kin if found guilty of negligence during treatment ended inconclusively today.

Both sides, however, agreed to send related documents to Chief Secretary Rajendra Kishor Chettri. “As the chief secretary is out of Kathmandu we decide on our next move after he returns tomorrow. A Cabinet decision can’t be overturned by the health ministry,” informed Dr Bhola Ram Shrestha, one of the members of the government’s team.

The Cabinet had asked the health ministry to draft a bill to curb negligence of doctors and make them responsible towards patients.

NMA issuing a press release today said it would continue closure of OPD services in hospitals across the country until further notice.

The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, however, has already made it clear that its decision was meant to ensure fair investigation of deaths caused by gross negligence of the doctors.