KATHMANDU: The umbrella organisation of doctors and nurses in Nepal, Nepal Medical Association (NMA), medical societies and Association of Private Nursing Homes are preparing for a 'disobedience protest' against the government within the next two weeks.

Dr Kedar Narshing KC, president of NMA, informed that they had held a joint-meeting, which decided to launch the 'disobedience protest'.

However, he said that the meeting has decided to serve a 15-day ultimatum to the government to address their demands.

Talking to The Himalayan Times, KC reiterated that they were not going to pay five per cent service tax to the government, as part of their 'disobedience protest'. Currently, private hospitals and clinics are paying five per cent surcharge to the government.

As part of their 'disobedience protest' strategy, the agitating unions have appealed to all the private institutions to boycott the payment of extra service tax and to show solidarity in their protest.

He said that they were not going to budge an inch on their demand and the protest would go on if the demands are not addressed with the next two weeks.

NMA has set forth a nine-point demands that include, among other things, entry of doctors from ninth-level in government hospitals, waiver of five percent service tax levied on health professionals and private health institutions, and guaranteeing the security of health professionals.