KATHMANDU: Nepal Medical Association (NMA) today expressed their strong disappointment over the recommendations made by the committee formed under the leadership of the secretary of the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) to address their long overdue demands.

An NMA official, expressing anonymity, told The Himalayan Times that they were bracing up for an indefinite protest nationwide as the chances of reaching an agreement with the government thinned further, following the unsatisfactory recommendations forwarded by the MoHP.

“The doctors could also resign en-masse from their posts if the government failed to address their demands,” informed the source, adding that the unsatisfactory recommendations are gathering dust at the office of the Health Minister.

Dr Kedar Narsing KC, president of NMA, accused that the health ministry was not positive toward their demands and was turning ‘irresponsible’. MoHP had recommended the waiver of five-per cent service tax on the public hospitals and clinics from the next fiscal.

“We are sketching the modality of the protest programme right now should the government failed to address our nine points,” informed KC, adding that they were not going to budge an inch from their position in so far as their demands are concerned.

“We’re fighting for our profession,” he added. The NMA had so far held five rounds of intensive dialogue with the MoHP, but to no avail, KC bemoaned. A task force had also been formed a month ago for addressing their nine-point demands, including among other things, upgrading the post of doctors, waiving the five percent extra tax levied on health professionals and private health institutions, and security of health professionals. NMA also demanded for the effective implementation of Health Professional Protection Act endorsed seven months ago.