KMC strike?

[Ne_pal]

KMC doctors’ strike leaves patients in lurch


BY SANGEETA RIJAL

KATHMANDU, July 1 - The continued strike by Kathmandu Medical College (KMC) doctors has forced even emergency patients to return without service. The 500-bed hospital sees about 1,000 patients and over 100 in-patients daily.
A delivery case referred by District Hospital in Khotang was denied admission due to the strike being carried out by about 130 senior consultant doctors, medical officers and house officers. Her face was pale and she could hardly speak a word. "She was not in a position to speak as she had walked for five hours to reach the district hospital. She caught a flight after the hospital in Diktel, district hospital in Khotang could not handle her case," said Rai's brother-in-law who rushed her to KMC directly from the airport.
The hospital refused to admit her citing that her case would need surgery for which there were no doctors available. "If she needs surgery there won't be any doctors, therefore the best option will be to go to maternity hospital," one of the doctors was heard suggesting to the patient and her relative.
Besides Rai, dozens of patients who did not know about the strike that has been continuing for about two weeks now, were forced to return. Bindu Dahal, 40 remained in KMC for six months last year due to pneumonia. Doctors had advised her to instantly come to the hospital if she suffered from cold, cough, respiratory problem or any kind of body pain, especially of joints. "The doctor had said I would die if pneumonia recurred, so he had advised me to visit the hospital as soon as I noticed any symptom of recurrence of the disease," Dahal who arrived Kathmandu on Saturday said adding, "But the hospital is closed."
Dahal came all the way from Kavre VDC - 6 in Dolakha just for check up. "I can't afford to live any longer in Kathmandu, therefore I have no option but to go to the private clinic of the doctor who treated me last time," she added.
According to her, she needs to pay Rs 200 to 300 to get a ticket at the private clinic, which costs only Rs 25 at KMC. Similarly, she needs blood test, which will cost her in between Rs 200 to 300 in a private clinic, while the same costs only Rs 90 at KMC. Similarly, the cost for x-ray in private clinic is around Rs 300, and at KMC it is only Rs 150. Despite being a private hospital, KMC is popular among the general public due to affordability.
"The authority should have informed the public that it has halted service," a furious Ismita Thapa, 26, a staff nurse who came to the hospital all the way from Kalanki to get Ear Nose Throat (ENT) checked said.
Doctors have been protesting from June 17 demanding increase in salary and easy availability of equipment and emergency medicine in general wards.
Due to the strike, Out Patients' Department (OPD) has been closed completely, while no new patients are being admitted though those patients who have already been admitted are receiving treatment. But the meeting held on Sunday between protesting doctors and hospital management concluded without any agreement. Strike continues.

Kantipur daily


Can someone provide us with few more update? Whats cooking between PNP and the doctors?