DOTI, Feb 26: Health services across Doti have been badly affected since the last four days after the doctors working at the District Hospital left the district on Wednesday citing security concerns. The unavailability of doctors has caused immense problems to the patients especially those with serious illness.

According to Satish Bista, chief public health administrator of District Health Office (DHO), they have been forced to refer dead bodies to other districts for postmortem as there are no doctors in the hospitals. "We had to send two dead bodies to Dadeldhura for postmortem and refer several patients to other districts," said Bista.

On Sunday, Dr Jitendra Singh of the District Hospital, Doti was attacked by the family members of a woman, accusing him of misbehaving with her.  Following the attack, doctors had left the district as a part of a protest demanding action against those involved. Dr Bibash Parajuli, Dr Jitendra Singh and Dr Raj Kumar Bishwokarma of Saraswatinagar Primary Health Center were among the doctors who left the district on Wednesday. Besides them, doctors of some private hospitals have also left the district.

Family members of the woman had accused Dr Singh of misbehaving with her while conducting her video X-ray.  Dr Singh lost one of his teeth in the attack. As soon as the incident was publicized, Nepal Medical Association (NMA) and Government Doctors Association Nepal (GODAN) released separate statements urging the doctors working in private and government hospitals of Doti to leave the district.

District Police Office (DPO), Doti has arrested four individuals for their alleged involvement in the attack and has also registered a public offense case against them. The arrestees have been identified as Hikmat Singh Bista, Bijay Bista, Tek Bahadur Bista of Dipayal Silgadhi Municipality-7 and Arun Mahat of Dipayal Silgadhi-6. 

Meanwhile, claiming that the doctor had tried to molest her, the woman has also filed a complaint against Dr Singh. However, police have not registered her complaint so far, according to DSP of DPO Shiva Bahadur Singh. 

"No matter what the crime was, it would have been better had the woman taken legal action against the doctor rather than taking the law in their own hands," said DSP Singh, adding, "It is a criminal offense." 

Chief District Officer Surya Bahadur Khatri informed that efforts have been taken to bring back the doctors. "Our chief minister (chief minister of province 7 Trilochan Bhatta) has also shown concern toward this issue. We will try our best to bring them back," said Khatri.

 
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