POKHARA: The Outpatient Department (OPD) service and educational activities of the Gandaki Medical College Teaching Hospital have been halted from Tuesday following a protest by doctors of the hospital, putting forth the four-point demand.

As many as 80 medical doctors have been staging a demonstration by forming a struggle committee under the coordination of Dr Gopi Prasad Hirachan.

According to Dr Tara Koirala, secretary of the struggle committee, the four-point demand includes the reinstatement of doctors expelled without any reason, timely salary increment, salary distribution within the first seven days of the next months and permanent status to the employees hired on contract, as per the Labour Act 1992.

He further informed that the doctors were protesting the practice of expelling doctors out of personal interests.

“The protest was launched to secure the jobs of medical doctors after the College started expelling doctors haphazardly,” said Koirala, adding, “The protest will continue till Friday.”

New protest programmes would be announced if the government did not address the current demands, the leader further warned.

“After working for eight hours in the organisation, we should be allowed to work in other places as well,” he argued.

Meanwhile, the College CEO Santosh Khanal said contracts of only two doctors had not been renewed.

“The doctors have staged the protest without any notice. The OPD service is halted. This is against the dignity of their profession.”

He further requested the protesting medical team to get back to work as the talks between both the parties might take some time to reach an agreement.