Kathmandu, April 9

Protest of government doctors entered the fifth day today, but neither the government took any action against doctors for halting health services nor did the doctors hint at withdrawing the protest.

Hundreds of thousands of patents affected by the protest across the country, were compelled to return without any treatment from state-owned hospitals and health centres.

A man, along with his wife, who arrived from Rautahat district, waiting for the treatment of his wife’s leg at Trauma Centre, in Kathmandu, on Tuesday, April 9, 2019. Photo: Skanda Gautam/THT

Earlier, the Ministry of Health and Population had issued a press statement that it would initiate action against the agitating doctors if they didn’t return to work by calling off the protest.

Dipendra Pandey, president of Government Doctors’ Association of Nepal, said nearly 700 doctors hired by government hospitals were ready to resign if the government failed to address their demands. Doctors have been demanding that the government doctors be hired and managed by the central government. They have been halting health services, except emergency service, since last Friday.

Spokesperson for MoHP Mahendra Shrestha said an internal meeting was held to deliberate on the situation and the way forward. He said the government had not shown any sign of holding talks.