SARLAHI, JULY 23

Doctors at the Provincial Hospital in Malangwa have suspended all services except emergency care after a doctor was assaulted by patient relatives while on duty.

The incident occurred on Monday night when Dr Krishna Jung Sah, an orthopedic specialist, was checking on patients in the emergency ward when attendants of a patient allegedly began hurling verbal abuse and physically assaulted him without provocation. The assault was captured on CCTV.

Dr Sah filed a formal complaint at the District Administration Office and the District Police Office, but he said the local authorities have yet to take the issue seriously, prompting the hospital staff to protest by halting services including OPD, lab, and radiology.

'We demand immediate legal action against the perpetrators,' said Dr Sanjeev Singh, the hospital superintendent. According to him, the patient involved-40-year-old Renu Devi-was diagnosed with a broken scapula. The assailants reportedly included self-proclaimed journalist Satya Prakash Yadav and Radheshyam Yadav, among others.

Dr Sah, who formerly worked at the trauma center of Bir Hospital, said he had returned to serve in his hometown to support the local community. He emphasized that such attacks discourage healthcare professionals from working in rural areas. 'My morale has been shaken by this attack. The protest will continue until the assailants are brought to justice,' he said.

The Nepal Medical Association and hospital administration have issued separate press releases condemning the attack and demanding strong legal action. Dr Sah stated in his complaint that the actions not only endangered him but also disrupted emergency services and put other patients' lives at risk.