Doctors’ Protest Shuts OPD Services Across Nepal

Patients across Nepal faced major disruptions on Tuesday after doctors and health workers suspended all non-emergency services in protest against the assault on Dr. Pramod Ram at Narayani Hospital in Birgunj. The coordinated action, called to demand stronger legal protection for healthcare professionals, left outpatient departments closed at most government hospitals and forced many people seeking routine treatment to return home without care.

The protest underscored growing concern within the medical community that repeated attacks on doctors and frontline health workers are creating an increasingly unsafe working environment, with consequences now extending to patients who rely on public health services.

Government hospitals halt routine services

Regular outpatient services remained closed at several major public hospitals in Kathmandu, including Bir Hospital, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, and Civil Hospital.

People who arrived early in the morning for scheduled consultations and routine check-ups were unable to obtain registration tickets. Many waited inside hospital premises hoping services would resume, while others eventually left without receiving treatment. Family members accompanying patients also remained uncertain about when normal operations would restart.

Emergency departments continued to function, hospitals said.

Doctors demand accountability and workplace safety

Medical professionals said the suspension of non-emergency services was intended to press authorities to ensure strict legal action against those responsible for the attack on Dr. Pramod Ram and to guarantee a safe working environment for healthcare workers.

They argue that repeated assaults on doctors and other medical staff have made the delivery of healthcare increasingly insecure, affecting both providers and the public they serve.

Health Ministry urges services to continue

The Ministry of Health and Population appealed to hospitals and healthcare workers not to disrupt medical services under any circumstances.

In a statement issued by ministry spokesperson Dr. Samir Kumar Adhikari, the ministry said legal proceedings had already been initiated against those involved in the assault on Dr. Ram and urged health institutions to continue providing patient care.

Despite the appeal, outpatient services at most government hospitals across the country remained suspended throughout Tuesday.

The immediate impact of the dispute has been felt most sharply by ordinary patients, many of whom travelled to hospitals expecting routine treatment only to find services unavailable. With emergency care continuing but regular consultations halted, pressure has grown on all concerned parties to resolve the standoff quickly and restore normal healthcare services.