Kathmandu, February 1 Seventeen persons were arrested by Nepal Police while staging protest in support of senior orthopaedic surgeon Dr Govinda KC. Resident doctors, MBBS students and interns of TUTH were arrested by police while they were moving towards Sital Niwas. They were released in the evening after Nepal Medical Association and doctors appealed to the government to release them. President of National Resident Doctors’ Association Dr Sumit Pandey said, “Among those arrested, seven are residents doctors, four interns and six MBBS students,” he said, adding, “Some of the doctors were to attend an emergency surgery today.” In the same way, despite Nepal Medical Association’s decision to halt all services, except emergency, the hospital provided services to patients. TUTH Director Dr Prem Krishna Khadga said the hospital provided regular health services to the patients.  “Today only 1,405 patients received health services from the hospital. Yesterday, 1,397 patients had received services,” he added. Meanwhile, issuing a press statement, the Ministry of Health and Population has warned that it would take action against doctors involved in the protest. On January 27, Nepal Medical Association had announced that it would stage relay hunger strike throughout the country demanding that the government meet Dr KC’s demands related to medical education.