Hundreds of Nepalese patients have been compelled to go to India for treatment as all medical services, including emergency, have been halted since Sunday due to a strike called by doctors demanding medical reforms.
As hospitals and clinics remained closed for a fourth day, the patients had no other option but to travel to India for emergency treatment, officials said.
The doctors are striking in order to press the authorities to address demands of leading orthopaedic surgeon Govinda K C, who is on the fast unto death since January 11.
Govinda, a senior professor at the Institution of Medicine (IoM), is staging the strike to protest appointment of Shashi Sharma as the dean of the institute.
Yesterday, over 100 doctors resigned to show solidarity with Govinda and to push for reform of medical education. The Nepal Medical Association said the protests would continue unless Govinda’s demands are met.
All medical services have been affected at the government and some private hospitals across Nepal due to the indefinite strike.
