KATHMANDU: Minister for Health and Population Umakanta Chaudhary today issued a two-day ultimatum to the agitating health workers of National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS), Bir Hospital, to seek a long-term solution by postponing all the protest programmes.

Health services, including even the emergency, have come to a grinding halt at the nation’s oldest and biggest hospital following the protest by resident doctors that entered its ninth day today.

In his bid to resolve the crisis, Minister Chaudhary today called the officials of NAMS at the former’s office and served them the ultimatum to resolve the problem in two days.

Dr CP Maskey, Vice-Chancellor of NAMS, Registrar Dr Bishwa Raj Joshi, Rector Dr Shree Krishna Giri and others were present at the ministry today.

“If they cannot solve the problem within two days, they should resign from their posts and help us resolve the problem in newer way,” he told The Himalayan Times, after the meeting. “I have told the officials and health workers to do so. This is the only solution to the problem,” he added.

Among other things, resident doctors have been protesting the hike in fee from Rs 1,100 to 4,000 for those students who have joined the NAMS under the government scholarship programme. Some 200 resident doctors also demand for new cabins, free treatment and modern medical equipment.

Meanwhile, the Minister said earlier the ministry did not feel it necessary to intervene in NAMS’ affairs and wanted the latter to resolve its internal problems.

“We are compelled to act now as the general public are deprived of their rights to get treatment,” he added.

NAMS’ Vice Chancellor Dr Bishwa Raj Dali was forced to resign last year in a similar protest. Following his resignation, then Minister Giriraj Mani Pokhrel had appointed the incumbent officials, who admitted that they were ‘diplomatically’ asked to quit.

Meanwhile, patients needing emergency healthcare who come from far and wide continued to bear the brunt of the strikes.

Only two patients were registered today in the emergency ward, which has 42 beds.

More than half the beds in medical observation ward were vacant today, sources at the emergency ward said.

Dr Arbin Joshi, secretary of Residents’ Association of NAMS, said that the services would resume as soon as their demands are addressed.

“The minister has assured us to solve the problem by Sunday,” he added.

Vice Chancellor Maskey, said that his proposals for dialogue was twice rejected by striking doctors, who he said were politicising the issue.

“They should prove that we are incapable, lest it is unreasonable to reject the call for dialogue causing trouble to patients,” he said.

Rector Giri said they were not ready to hold talks with them and were giving negative comments about them despite efforts made in the last 11 months to provide them good services.