KATHMANDU: Nepal Medical Association (NMA) President Dr. Badri Rijal has urged the government to immediately address the demands of intern doctor Dr. Dilli Harijan, who is on an indefinite hunger strike, saying the demands are justified.
After meeting Dr. Harijan, Dr. Rijal said it was unfortunate that the intern doctor had been forced to launch another hunger strike because agreements reached repeatedly with the Ministry of Education had not been implemented.
According to him, intern doctors were earlier assured a subsistence allowance equal to 50 percent of the benefits received by resident doctors. However, different medical colleges and teaching institutions continue to provide unequal amounts ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 24,000, creating discrimination among interns. He said the demand to end such disparities and provide equal facilities to all intern doctors was reasonable.
Dr. Rijal said efforts had been made for a long time to hold discussions with the ministry, pressure the concerned authorities and reach agreements, but the failure to implement those agreements had compelled Dr. Harijan to resume the hunger strike.
He described it as a serious matter for the state that doctors have to repeatedly resort to indefinite hunger strikes over the same issue. He urged the Ministry of Education to hold discussions with all concerned parties and immediately implement the existing agreements.
Dr. Rijal also clarified that the Nepal Medical Association stands in full solidarity with Dr. Harijan’s demands and said the situation in which doctors have to repeatedly launch protests to secure their rights should come to an end.
“When doctors are forced onto the streets, patients suffer the most, and we do not want to see patients facing hardship,” he said. “The government should address Dr. Harijan’s legitimate demands before his health condition becomes more serious.”
The issue has drawn wider attention as pressure mounts on the government to ensure equal facilities for intern doctors and implement past agreements. The Nepal Medical Association’s open support for Dr. Harijan has further intensified public attention on the matter.
