Chitwan: Patients are bearing the brunt of doctors’ nationwide protest since medical services, except for emergencies, remain shut across all public and private healthcare facilities in the country, including Chitwan district. The protest, waged by healthcare providers under the leadership of the Nepal Medical Association, the umbrella organization of medical doctors, has directly affected patients at Bharatpur Hospital in the district.
According to National News Agency Nepal, patients arriving at Bharatpur Hospital are turning away after doctors continue their protest due to a lack of timely response to their demands. Emergency and urgent surgeries are continuing while regular services have been suspended. The hospital, which has been treating cancer patients from 25 districts across the country as well as neighboring India, is now only providing emergency care.
Sarita Darai, who came from Rising rural municipality of Tanahu district for the treatment of her father-in-law, expressed frustration as they could not avail treatment due to the protest. “We had been to the hospital for the treatment of a skin disease. We have been waiting since Monday, only to find out that all services except for emergency are closed,” she lamented, expressing that it was a waste of time and money. Similarly, Dil Bahadur Kunwar Khadka, 60, of Bharatpur Metropolitan City-12 in Chitwan district, shared his disappointment after being unable to access healthcare services for his health issue.
Patients from outside the district, like Gopi Mukhiya of Sarlahi district, are struggling with accommodation and meal issues due to the prolonged protest. Mukhiya arrived at the hospital some 10 days ago for his wife’s treatment, but when it was time to show the report to the doctor following various medical tests, the protest ensued, leaving them in distress.
Many other patients, including Dhanmaya Shrestha of Thori rural municipality of Parsa district and Dandapani Sapkota of Bharatpur-5 in Chitwan district, are facing similar problems. Patients in other hospitals such as BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, Chitwan Medical College, College of Medical Science, and Bharatpur Eye Hospital among others, are also affected.
NMA’s Chitwan Chapter’s Senior Vice-President, Dr. Dilendra Neupane, mentioned that they were staging a protest against the Consumer Court’s recent verdict. The verdict imposed a severe penalty on doctors found guilty of gross negligence that led to serious complications and patients’ deaths. He warned that they would continue with the protest until their demands were addressed.
Association’s Chitwan Chapter’s President, Dr. Umesh Nepal, explained that they were forced to protest as their demands have been unheeded so far. Chitwan Medical College’s Executive Director Pratap Devkota urged the government to address the protesting doctors’ demands at the earliest and resume other services in the hospitals, noting the mounting pressure on emergency services.