Chitwan-based hospitals close OPD services in protest against assault on medic

CHITWAN:- Most Chitwan-based hospitals shut their OPD (outpatient department) services today in protest against the assault on a medical officer at Narayani Hospital, Birgunj. 

The closure of the OPD services deprived over 11,000 patients of medical consultations and other services.

Earlier, Raj Kumar Patel, 45, of Birgunj Metropolis-25, died on Saturday while undergoing treatment at the hospital. Accusing the doctors of negligence in his treatment, his relatives attacked medical officer Dr Pramod Ram and vandalized the hospital property.

Medical officer Dr Ram, who sustained severe injuries in the attack, was taken to Kathmandu. He has been undergoing the treatment at National Trauma Centre in Kathmandu since Monday.

In protest of the attack, most hospitals in the district today suspended OPD services.

On Monday, the Bharatpur Hospital alone provided OPD services to 3,500 patients, while BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital treated 1,200 through its OPD. Two medical colleges together provided services to over 2,000 and over 4,000 received services at other big and small hospitals in the district.

Maya Devi Lamsal, a patient with diabetes and hypertension, who visited the Bharatpur for a medical consultation, said the doctors’ protest affected her treatment. The Bharatpur Hospital, BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, two medical colleges and 23 small hospitals have shut their services.

Senior Vice-President of the Nepal Medical Association, Chitwan, Dr Deependra Neupane, confirmed that all services except the emergency care had been suspended.

Condemning the attack on the doctor, he said it would be difficult to resume regular services until those responsible in the incident are brought to justice.

Patients from Chitwan, other parts of the country as well as areas bordering India regularly visit the BP Koirala Memorial Hospital.