Narayani Hospital Doctors Resign, Ministry Appeals

The assault on doctors and health workers at Narayani Hospital has pushed the dispute beyond a single hospital, with physicians warning that continued inaction over their security could trigger a broader nationwide response. As protests intensify, doctors at the Birgunj-based hospital have begun submitting mass resignations, saying repeated appeals for protection and accountability have gone unanswered.

Hospital spokesperson Dr. Uday Narayan Singh said 30 of the hospital’s 70 doctors submitted their resignations to Medical Superintendent Dr. Chittaranjan Sah on Monday night. The remaining doctors are also preparing to resign collectively.

The protesting doctors have maintained that the Chief District Officer and the district police chief should accept moral responsibility for the incident. They argue that the state’s response after violence inside a government hospital has failed to reassure health workers that they can perform their duties safely.

They have also warned that if their demands continue to be ignored, doctors across Nepal could resort to coordinated resignations.

Security and Accountability at the Center of the Protest

The doctors are demanding:

• Immediate legal action against those involved in the assault.
• Guaranteed security inside hospitals.
• A zero-tolerance policy against violence targeting doctors and other health workers.

The dispute has evolved into a broader question of how public hospitals can continue providing uninterrupted care if healthcare workers themselves feel unsafe at work.

Medical Association Announces Nationwide Protest

The Nepal Medical Association has condemned the attack and announced that hospitals across the country will suspend all routine services on Tuesday except emergency care.

The association has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible for vandalism and the assault on doctors at Narayani Hospital. It has also accused police of mistreating its office bearers and representatives of the local chapter during protests following the incident.

The association says additional protest programs will be announced if meaningful action is not taken.

Government Urges Hospitals to Keep Treatment Running

The Ministry of Health and Population has appealed to all health institutions not to disrupt patient care, stressing that healthcare is an essential life-saving service and that citizens should not be denied treatment.

According to the ministry, those involved in the incident have been identified and legal proceedings are underway. It also acknowledged that doctors and health workers have the fundamental right to work in a safe and respectful environment while urging all sides to ensure that medical services continue without interruption.

Health Minister Nisha Mehta visited Kathmandu’s Trauma Centre to meet injured physician Dr. Pramod Ram, who was airlifted from Birgunj for further treatment after the attack. The ministry said she directed security agencies to take strict legal action against those responsible.

Incident Raises Larger Questions for Nepal’s Public Health System

The violence followed a dispute during treatment at Narayani Hospital in Birgunj on 24 July, after which the hospital was vandalized and doctors and health workers were assaulted.

The incident has now become more than a criminal investigation. It has reopened concerns over hospital security, the state’s responsibility to protect frontline health workers, and the challenge of maintaining uninterrupted public healthcare during periods of confrontation. The next round of talks between the government, security agencies, and protesting doctors is expected to determine whether hospital services can return to normal or whether the protest expands further.