Kathmandu: Doctors of around 400 hospitals
and health centres across Nepal on Monday went on a one-day strike
demanding security and pay hikes, crippling medical services
in the himalayan nation.
According to the Nepal Medical Association, doctors
demanding salary hike and improved security have refused to
provide routine medical care, however, they were attending
emergency cases.
The doctors were demanding increased pay and perks for
them. They are also asking the government to provide security
after several incidents of physicians being beaten and
hospitals vandalised by kin of patients who have died during
treatment.
Meanwhile, the government set up a five-member committee
headed by Health Minister Uma Kanta Chaudhary to address the
demands of the doctors.
However, the doctors rejected the government's call for
withdrawal of their strike.
They said they would announce further protest programmes
to pressurise the government to fulfil their demands.
PTI
First Published: Monday, December 28, 2009, 23:38