Locals demonstrate that the situation in Nepal Medical College has worsened (with pictures)
Locals demonstrated against issues such as negligence in treatment, deaths of patients treated by trainee doctors.
KATHMANDU: Locals protested on Friday, claiming that the condition of Nepal Medical College Hospital in Attarkhel, Gokarneshwor Municipality, had deteriorated.
Locals demonstrated against issues such as negligence in treatment, deaths of patients treated by trainee doctors, non-distribution given by state and local governments for treatment of senior citizens, hospitals building structures by combining public land and ditches, laboratories building underground parking and charging high parking fees to customers.
Kiran KC, the outgoing Chair of the hospital’s official trade union, resigned as a result of this situation.
KC says, ‘Since I was not able to speak against the negligence of the hospital after receiving the salary, I resigned and joined the protest to bring the voice of the common customers to the public.’
According to KC, rather than sitting idly by as a patient dies due to negligence in treatment, I raise my voice against the injustice by resigning.
Deepak Kumar Risal, mayor of Gokarneshwor Municipality, says, ‘The municipality has been giving 70 percent discount on treatment to senior citizens living locally. Only local residents get this facility and have been doing it.’
The municipality suggests this based on the senior citizens’ identity card or citizenship. Local protesters, on the other hand, have demanded that everyone receive the state’s 50 percent discount for senior citizens.
Senior citizens have the right to use state facilities as opposed to locals or non-locals. However, they claim that the Nepal Medical College Teaching Hospital denied senior citizens that right. Furthermore, they have accused the hospital administration of mobilizing gangsters against those who protested there.
Kiran KC, the outgoing Chair of the hospital’s official trade union, resigned as a result of this situation.
Locals have also demanded that parking be made free, that structures built without the hospital’s approval be demolished, and that public land be returned.
Photos:-
-Saroj Basnet
