RAJBIRAJ: Bringing out bed-ridden patients to the street, health professionals staged a demonstration here in Rajbiraj, the district headquarters of Saptari, as all health facilities have remained shut in the district for three weeks.

Doctors, nurses and other health professionals as well as patients took part in the rally that started from the Gajendra Narayan Singh Sagarmatha Zonal Hospital. Bed-ridden patients were taken out on open tricycle rickshaws, while those who could not walk rode rickshaws.

Health professionals demanded that conducive environment be created for the resumption of health facilities, while patients demanded that they be provided with treatment.

After passing through different places, including the Saptari District Administration Office, rally turned into an assembly at the Zonal Hospital premises.

Mahesh Prasad Khanal, the medical superintendent of the Zonal Hospital, charged that the government has remained indifferent towards the demands of health professionals, and the closure of hospitals as well as other health facilities in the district.

All health facilities have been closed to protest the November 22 police intervention at the Zonal Hospital in which many health professionals were injured.

Health professionals have been demanding guarantee of security and action against the security personnel who beat their colleagues.

Meanwhile, the Chief District Officer of Saptari, Narayan Bhatta,  said that he was serious about the health professionals' concerns.