Key Takeaways:

• 68 doctors resigned from Narayani Hospital, severely disrupting services
• Dispute escalated after alleged police mistreatment during talks at Parsa DAO
• Patient's family staged sit-in at Dry Port Chowk, demanding impartial probe
• NMA suspended non-emergency services nationwide, warning of stronger protests

BIRGUNJ, JULY 28 The crisis at Narayani Hospital deepened on Tuesday after 68 doctors submitted their collective resignations amid an escalating dispute following an attack on health workers, while the family of a patient who died during treatment continued its protest demanding an impartial investigation. The mass resignation has severely disrupted services at the government hospital, leaving large numbers of patients without access to treatment. Hospital spokesperson Dr Uday Narayan Singh said 68 doctors submitted their resignations to Acting Medical Superintendent Dr Chitranjan Sah between Monday night and Tuesday afternoon. The hospital has more than 70 doctors.

Doctors said tensions escalated during talks held at the Parsa District Administration Office on Monday in the presence of Chief District Officer Bhola Dahal. During the meeting, doctors reportedly demanded the resignation of Dahal and Parsa Police Chief Superintendent of Police Sudip Raj Pathak. The doctors alleged that as they attempted to leave the meeting, SP Pathak pushed them and forced them back into the chief district officer's office, leading to a scuffle between police personnel and doctors. The incident further angered the protesting doctors and prompted the decision to resign collectively. The dispute began Saturday after 50-year-old Raj Kumar Patel of Birgunj–25 died while receiving treatment in the hospital's emergency department. Patel's relatives alleged medical negligence and vandalised the emergency unit, assaulting Medical Officer Dr Pramod Ram, who is now receiving treatment in Kathmandu. Doctors and health workers have been protesting since Sunday, demanding immediate legal action against those involved in the attack, guaranteed security for medical personnel and a safe working environment at health institutions. Meanwhile, the Nepal Medical Association (NMA) suspended all non-emergency services at hospitals across the country on Tuesday, accusing authorities of failing to arrest and take legal action against those involved in the attack. The association also alleged that doctors were mistreated by police during the protest and warned of stronger protests if effective action was not taken. The Ministry of Health and Food Safety, however, urged hospitals and health workers not to disrupt healthcare services, describing healthcare as an essential and life-saving service. The ministry said it had initiated the process of identifying those involved in the incident and taking legal action, while reiterating the government's commitment to ensuring a safe and respectful working environment for health professionals.

Meanwhile, Patel's family members and relatives staged a sit-in at Bahuari, also known as Dry Port Chowk, in Birgunj, demanding an impartial investigation and action against those found responsible. The family has maintained that medical negligence led to Patel's death and called for the facts surrounding the incident to be made public. They said their protest would continue until they received justice. While Patel's family is demanding accountability over the alleged negligence, doctors are protesting the assault on health workers and vandalism at the hospital. The parallel protests have disrupted services at Narayani Hospital, with patients bearing the brunt of the prolonged dispute.