Kathmandu, December 26:

Doctors today announced that they would halt all medical services, expect emergency services, from tomorrow till December 29 demanding the enforcement of the Medical protection act and severe punishment to those involved in manhandling medical professionals and vandalism.

At a meeting, the Nepal Medical Association (NMA), along with representatives of government hospitals and directors of private hospitals, today announced a three-day strike from tomorrow.

The NMA announced the strike demanding to enforce the medical protection law, strong action against those who manhandled medical professionals and establishment of a strong mechanism to investigate the issue.

Dr Kiran Shrestha, general secretary of NMA, said: “We know about the difficulty but we are doing it as a compulsion. The attack on medical professionals and vandalism is increasing everyday and we cannot work in such an environment”. “It has become a trend that doctors and medical professionals have become the target to vent anger on,” said Dr Shrestha.

The OPD of Kanti Hospital, TUTH, Bir Hospital and Prasuti Griha remained closed today as part of the protest programme against the manhandling of the doctors and vandalism at Kanti hospital on December 25.