HETAUDA: Health institutions across Makwanpur district remained closed for all services except emergencies on Wednesday as doctors and health workers staged a protest against the recent attack on medical personnel at Narayani Hospital in Birgunj.

The Makwanpur chapter of the Nepal Medical Association (NMA) submitted a memorandum to the District Administration Office through Assistant Chief District Officer Mohan Raj Joshi, condemning the assault on doctors and health workers and the vandalism carried out inside the hospital.

According to the association, health workers from across the district gathered at the NMA Makwanpur office located at Hetauda Hospital at 1:00 pm before marching to the District Administration Office to hand over the memorandum.

The protesting doctors informed the administration about their ongoing agitation program, demanding immediate legal action against those involved in the Birgunj incident.
As part of the protest, all non-emergency services were suspended in government, non-government, and private hospitals, as well as polyclinics and clinics throughout Makwanpur. The movement has also received support from various organizations in the health sector, including specialist groups and the Association of Private Health Institutions of Nepal (APHIN).

A few days ago, doctors at Narayani Hospital in Birgunj were allegedly attacked, and the hospital suffered physical damage. The Nepal Medical Association has accused the government and local administration of showing indifference, saying that four days have passed since the incident but the perpetrators have not been brought to justice.

In its statement, the association said it was “extremely shameful that instead of filing cases and taking action against the culprits, the victimized doctors have been subjected to repression and injustice, while doctors who went for dialogue were mistreated by the Chief District Officer of Parsa and the district police chief.”

NMA Makwanpur Secretary Dr. Raju Sedhai said doctors had been compelled to launch the protest due to the government’s failure to ensure the safety and dignity of health professionals. He demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible for the attack and the strict implementation of imprisonment without bail for crimes committed in sensitive areas such as hospitals.