Sixty-eight doctors at Narayani Hospital in Birgunj have submitted their mass resignations.
The doctors, who had launched an agitation on Saturday, halting even emergency medical services, have now submitted their collective resignations.
According to the hospital's Acting Medical Superintendent, Dr Chittaranjan Sah, out of the 90 doctors – including government and development committee positions – working at the hospital, 68 doctors signed and submitted mass resignation letters. He said that circumstances are such that even more doctors may resign.
"I had requested them to find a solution through dialogue and discussion, and to open emergency services to provide care," Dr Sah said, "Instead, they brought a letter saying they are resigning en masse."
Due to the doctors' protests, outpatient department (OPD) services have come to a complete standstill at Narayani Hospital as well as hospitals across the country. No new patients have been admitted to Narayani Hospital. Doctors said that patients already admitted to the hospital are also being discharged rapidly.
According to Dr. Ajay Yadav, spokesperson for Nepal Medical Association (NMA) Narayani chapter, admitted patients are also being discharged since the doctors have already resigned, making it impossible to provide services to even those patients.
"There is no question of working after resigning, and since treatment cannot be provided, there is no point in keeping patients either," he said. "Therefore, we are also discharging the admitted patients."
On average, 800 to 1,000 service seekers from Birgunj and surrounding areas receive OPD services at Narayani Hospital every day.
The situation deteriorated further following the mistreatment of doctors during talks held under the coordination of the chief district officer (CDO) at the District Administration Office, Parsa, on Monday.
A video has been made public showing Parsa Superintendent of Police (SP) Sudeep Raj Pathak himself manhandling the protesting doctors. Doctors decided to resign following the incident at the District Administration Office. The doctors have complained of feeling unsafe from the very security agencies meant to protect them.
According to Dr Uday Narayan Singh, a doctor at Narayani Hospital, during the talks held on Monday at the District Administration Office, in the presence of House of Representatives member Sushil Sah Kanu, NMA central member Dr Amit Jha reacted angrily and loudly told Chief District Officer Bhola Dahal, "If you cannot resolve the issue, your resignation will be demanded too." Following this, CDO Dahal flew into a rage, shouting, "Who is asking for my resignation? Lock them up!" and hurled abuses.
"I don't know how it was during the Panchayat era, but I had never seen such behavior from the administration in a democracy before. The police administration used abusive language and insulted us," he said. "I even folded my hands and asked the chief district officer not to get agitated, but it fell on deaf ears; the atmosphere deteriorated. When they said they would lock us up, the doctors walked out saying there was no point in talking."
Subsequently, SP Pathak ordered police to stop the departing doctors. Doctors reported that police used force to drag the doctors who had reached the balcony and stairs back into the CDO's office and also confiscated some doctors' mobile phones, leading to a scuffle between doctors and police. After doctors who were outside learned about the incident and rushed to the administration office and created a ruckus, the encircled doctors were released.
"People demand the resignation of the prime minister and home minister, but when the CDO's resignation was demanded, doctors were mistreated like criminals," said Dr Singh. "When the people called for talks were subjected to police detention and verbal abuse, the situation worsened."
The doctors have demanded immediate action against the CDO and SP, the identification and legal prosecution of individuals who assaulted Dr Pramod Ram, and an investigation into whether there was any negligence during Saturday's incident, with action taken against those found guilty.
On Saturday, 45-year-old Rajkumar Patel of Birgunj Metropolitan City-25 was brought to Narayani Hospital after suffering a heart attack. He died during treatment in the emergency room. Relatives of the deceased vandalized the hospital and severely beat up Dr Pramod Ram, who was working in the emergency room, alleging negligence in treatment.
"When Rajkumar was brought to the hospital, his blood pressure was 80/60 and oxygen was at 80. Every possible treatment was provided to the patient, who was in cardiogenic shock, but he could not be saved," says Dr Singh. "The hospital was vandalized over that incident, and the administration called us for talks only for Dr Pramod Ram to be beaten nearly to death on the way. If there is a suspicion of negligence, it should be investigated, and if doctors are guilty, action will be taken. When there’s an attempt on life, there is no question of holding talks."
Dr Pramod Ram's condition is critical. He has been sent to the Trauma Center for further treatment.
Police have taken one individual into custody on charges of involvement in the incident and are investigating.
