Thousands of patients deprived of treatment as doctors keep up protest

The ongoing strikes by doctors has entered third day Friday, depriving thousands of patients across the country of medical treatment.

Mostly government run hospitals and private nursing homes across the country remained closed Friday to protest alleged death threat against a nursing home doctor after a patient under his supervision died in the course of the treatment.

They have said that they will continue their strike shutting down private, government and teaching hospitals and clinics except emergency services till Sunday. However, most of the established clinics in Kathmandu remained open and did brisk business due to over flooding of patients

Still, the strike, which started from Tuesday, has affected tens of thousands of patients.

The Nepal Medical Association (NMA) announced the strike to protest vandalism by relatives of a patient who had died during treatment at Everest Nursing Home last week. They were further enraged after the doctor involved in the treatment received death threats.

The doctors have demanded guarantee from the government regarding security of doctors and health institutions.

They have also handed over memo to the Prime Minister demanding security. Meanwhile, Health Ministry has urged the doctors to end their strike and come for dialogue.

Patients admitted in the hospitals across the country for treatment are affected the most due to lack of medical attention while many patients who have reached the medical institutions for treatment are in a great dilemma after finding the hospitals closed. A photo published in today's edition of the Kathmandu Post shows patients from Birgunj deprived of medical treatment being forced to sleep on the patio of Bir Hospotal in Kathmandu.

In a statement Thursday, National Human Rights Commission had expressed serious concern over the strike by medical workers. "Strikes in a most sensitive area like medical care have affected people's right to life," said the statement. nepalnews.com ag/sd July 11 08