Kathmandu, February 27

Hundreds of patients were affected as government doctors halted health services, except emergency, throughout the country demanding that their demands be addressed.

Government doctors have been staging protest for the last two months, demanding appointment of government doctors through the central government and amendment to the Civil Servants Adjustment Bill.

Bishnu Gaire, 25, a patient from Myagdi has taken appointment with a doctor at Bir Hospital three days ago. However, he couldn’t meet the doctor as there was a long queue of patients. “The doctor had asked me to visit hospital for endocrine test. I reached the hospital at around 8:00am but I couldn’t meet him due to the government doctors’ strike.” Gaire has been staying at a hotel in Kathmandu.

Likewise, Mina Kumari, 42, came to Bir Hospital from Dailekh for treatment.  She shared, “I came to Kathmandu for treatment, but I couldn’t visit the doctor due to the strike.” Mina said she would have to stay at a hotel as she didn’t have any relatives in Kathmandu.

However, the hospital claimed that despite the strike, it provided services to patients. Dr Bhupendra Basnet, director of Bir Hospital, shared that nearly 400 people visited the hospital and they are provided services through the emergency ward. “Only OPD service remains closed.”

Government Doctors’ Association of Nepal has threatened to indefinitely halt services. However, it decided not to halt services tomorrow in commemoration of Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari.