[नेपाली]

Medicos halt work at Manipal Hospital

POKHARA, July 20 - Doctors and employees of Manipal Teaching Hospital at Pokhara indefinitely closed the hospital from Friday protesting the manhandling of doctors.

The relatives of Rudra Prasad Thapa, a patient from Lamachaur, manhandled acting medical superintendent Dr M L Panhani, chief of orthopedic unit Dr N K Sinha, Dr Padam Khadka and Dr Amit Ray on Friday. They had blamed the doctors of not letting them know about the treatment process.

Soon after the incident, doctors and employees halted work and gathered at the hospital premises. "All the employees except those working at the ward stopped work," said Dr Panhani.

Janardan Bastola, the secretary of employees' union, said that they would not resume work until they were ensured a secured environment.

Thapa was admitted in the hospital to remove the steel plate placed in his arm six years ago. "The doctors removed only two among six plates and they did not inform my relatives in time," said Thapa.

However, Dr Panhani said they could remove only two plates as the possibility of bone cracking arose while removing the plates.

Meanwhile, issuing a statement on Friday, Dr Panhani said that they would not resume work, except emergency service, until they were ensured a secured environment. "We apologize to the patients for the inconvenience caused," read the statement. - The Kathmandu Post