DHARAN: Services at the District Hospital, Sunsari, have been adversely affected due to an agitation called by the doctors and other staffers demanding timely salary, on Wednesday.

The strike has irked the service seekers as all services, except emergency, have been shut. For the last five months, the government has not paid the salary of hospital staff members including doctors.

Health professional Pramod Mehata accused the hospital chief Beena Shakya of reimbursing salary to her close aides and going on leave.

"Even though the salary cheques were prepared by the accounts department, Chief Shakya did not sign them and stayed on leave, completely ignoring the employees of the hospital," Mehata lamented.

According to the administrative officer of the hospital, Umesh Gautam, the problem arose after the hospital chief Beena Shakya went to Kathmandu without notice, despite the government sending the required fund to the hospital.

One of the locals, Birendra Mehata, said, "Hundreds of patients coming to visit the hospital from far away places including Koshi, Bhokraha, Nursing, Gadi, Harinagara, Dewangunj have to return home empty-handed today."

Due to the sheer negligence of the hospital chief, employees are deprived of timely payment during Dashain festival, said Jamuna Gautam, Deputy Mayor of Inaruwa Municipality.

However, Chief District Officer Rajesh Paudel said, he is unaware of the situation.