February 12: The Nepal Medical Association (NMA) has decided to halt all healthcare services except the emergency across the country on Sunday to protest against the police assault on a doctor during the President’s convoy on Friday.

The NMA has decided to suspend all the health care services that are carried out from the government, non-government, private and cooperative health institutions, hospitals, medical colleges and academies. However, emergency services will operate sans disruptions.

Issuing a statement on Saturday, President of NMA Dr Lochan Karki said that NMA’s serious attention was drawn to the attack on Senior Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr Janith Lal Singh of the National Trauma Centre and other health workers. 

Earlier, doctors at Bir Hospital and National Trauma Centre had decided not to provide Outpatient Department (OPD) services.
Dr Janith Singh, senior orthopaedic surgeon, of the National Trauma Centre was assaulted by police personnel on Friday for walking during President Bidya Devi Bhandari’s convoy on its way back to Sheetal Niwas.

Dr Singh was assaulted by on-duty police personnel while he was heading to the hospital to join his duty. He has sustained head injuries and is currently kept under observation in the Intensive Care Unit. 

A meeting of the executive committee of the NMA has also asked the government to establish a proper system to permanently end sufferings inflicted on the public during VVIP convoys.