Hospitals across the country closed except for emergency services

KATHMANDU: Doctors have announced a protest against the beating of a doctor by the police on Friday during the President’s ride.

The Nepal Medical Association has decided to stop non-emergency services in hospitals, medical colleges, institutes and health institutions across the country today in protest against the incident of assaulting of doctors.

Dr. Janithlal Singh, a doctor at the National Trauma Center, and Dr. Alam, a doctor working at the Veer Hospital, were injured in the lathicharge of the police who were guarding President Bidya Devi Bhandari’s convoy on Friday.

The medical association has announced a protest saying that the deadly assault on doctors and health workers working in a sensitive field like health is tragic in the name of VIP security.

According to a statement issued by the union on Saturday, it has been decided to close all services except emergency services in all health institutions and hospitals across the country, including government and non-government, private, cooperative health institutions, hospitals, private and government medical colleges, institutions, and hospitals, for one day on Sunday.

The union has protested, claiming that even patients who came for medical attention were being harmed by their inability to reach the hospital. According to Dr. Badri Rijal, the association’s General Secretary, the government of Nepal is also responsible for the impact of non-emergency services in hospitals across the country.

During the VVIP drive on Friday, after assaulting up Dr. Janithlal Singh, the police also assault other doctors who protested. Dr. Shesharaj Ghimire, Bir Hospital’s doctor, said that Dr. Alam and dozens of other health workers were also beaten up by the police.

Doctors said that Dr. Zahir Alam, who was injured and admitted to the hospital along with Dr. Singh, was beaten up by the police for taking a photo and video of him being beaten up.

Police suspended

The officer who assaulted the doctor during President Bidya Devi Bhandari’s convoy has been fired. Shambhu Jung Gurung, a senior police constable involved in the incident, has been suspended.

Gurung, who works in the police circle’s public service, was suspended by the police for unprofessional behavior while on duty. Protests have ranged from social media to the streets in response to the issue of doctors being beaten.