Govt, Nepal Medical Association reach agreement; Health service resumes

Kathmandu: The government and Nepal Medical Association have reached an agreement today. With the signing of the deal, doctors have withdrawn their ongoing protest programmes.

In protest of the incident of misbehaviour and assault on doctors and health workers, the Nepal Medical Association (NMA) had shut OPD and other services in health facilities across the country on Tuesday and Wednesday, demanding action against the guilty parties.

To resolve the dispute, the Government of Nepal and the Medical Association reached a five-point agreement today.

After discussions at the Ministry of Health and Food Safety with the representatives of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, and officials of the Nepal Medical Association, the agreement was signed this afternoon.

In this agreement, the government expressed its commitment to effectively implementing the Health Workers and Health Institutions Protection Act, 2066.

According to this Act, the government will issue necessary guidelines to ensure the protection of health workers and coordinate among relevant ministries for legal action in cases of attacks on health workers or damage to health institutions.

Likewise, measures will be taken to ensure the security of health institutions. Similarly, the agreement also includes preparation of a plan to ensure the security of health institutions, and formation of a task force in collaboration with the Nepal Medical Association to implement the plan, with regular reviews of progress.

The agreement states that the Ministry of Health and Food Safety will form a task force within seven days, including participation from the Medical Association, to make necessary amendments related to health to the Consumer Protection Act 2018, based on the task force report.

The agreement was signed by Dr Parashar Dhungana, Secretary at the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs; Narayan Prasad Sharma Duwadi, Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies; Dr Bikash Devkota, Secretary at the Ministry of Health and Food Hygiene; and Dr Badri Rijal, President of the Nepal Medical Association.

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