Birgunj, August 30

Seeking security, all the agitating health workers serving at different health facilities, halted their services in Birgunj, Parsa, today.

All the services were affected due to the agitation at Narayani Sub-regional Hospital as well today. Yesterday, Doctor’s Association Parsa had issued a statement announcing closure all services in all health facilities of Birgunj Metropolitan City against the manhandling of a doctor.

Dr Sanjay Kumar Agrawal of Advanced Hospital, Birgunj was assaulted by the kin of a patient on August 26. “Though we demanded that the administration arrest the guilty and take action, the authority showed no interest. It remained mum. Hence, we decided to halt services at the metropolis for a day,” said Dr Manoj Gupta.

Meanwhile, Acting Chief District Officer of Parsa Durga Datta Poudel said that the agitating health workers would be responsible if any person died for want of treatment during the closure.

“In case any untoward incident takes place and anybody dies due to lack of treatment and agitation, the administration will take action against them as per the law of the land,” warned Poudel.

According to acting CDO Poudel, the doctors held a person on the charge of manhandling Dr Agrawal, but didn’t attend the police office since.

“Though we urged them to report to our office during investigation, none of them reported to us.

Hence, we released the alleged after 12 hours due to lack of cooperation on the part of doctors. Hence, their agitation has no meaning,” said Poudel.