Kathmandu – Protesting resident doctors have boycotted OPD services for three hours today, demanding government-level wages.

The protesting resident doctors, under the name of the ‘Sangharsh Samiti for a Safe Workplace for Healthcare Workers’, have announced to demonstrate with banners/placards and boycott OPD services at health institutions other than medical colleges and institutes across the country from 9 am to 12 pm. They have also announced that they will continue the protest at Maitighar Mandala.

The resident doctors had earlier protested with ‘pen down’ and aprons at their respective institutions.

The Sangharsh Samiti has been demanding that the minimum wage for interns and doctors studying MD, MS, MDS, DM and MCH be maintained at the same level as the government. They have also demanded that all PG programs be made completely fee-free .

The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education have decided to make a legal provision to provide a living allowance of Rs 25,000 for the first year, Rs 30,000 for the second year and Rs 35,000 for the third year to resident doctors studying in private medical colleges.

Coordinator of the Sangharsh Samiti, Dr. Sheshraj Ghimire, said that the agitation will continue until the four-point demands, including getting government-like service facilities, are met. Stating that they have boycotted OPD services for only three hours so that patients do not suffer much, he warned that if their demands are ignored, all services except emergency services will be completely stopped.