KATHMANDU, Sept 28: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has requested the government to create an environment where essential health services are not stopped.
The Commission drew the attention of the government by saying that it is constantly monitoring the safety of doctors, the continuity of health services and the problems faced by patients through various means.
In the last few days, attacks on doctors working in various hospitals in Kaski, Makwanpur, Lamjung, Chitwan districts, misbehavior and vandalism in health institutions and when doctors went on strike halting all health services except non-emergency services, the health treatment of the citizens has been affected, the Commission said.
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On September 10, a doctor of Sancho Hospital in Hetauda was assaulted by the relatives of a patient. On the 7th of October, the doctors of Lamjung Hospital in Lamjung were assaulted by the local people's representatives, and on September 24, the doctors were abused by the medical staff at the Manipal Hospital in Pokhara. The Commission has said that it has followed up on these incidents.
Last time, the relatives of the deceased abused the doctor and vandalized the physical structure of the hospital after a patient died during treatment at the Manipal Hospital in Pokhara. During that period, the Commission said that the monitoring found that doctors were mistreated even by the security personnel.
Doctors have stopped all services except for emergencies, demanding legal action against those involved in the incident and security of peace. Due to this, the patients who came for treatment were deprived of services, the Commission said.
"If a doctor is found guilty during health treatment, instead of bringing him under the scope of legal action, the increasing trend of attacking health institutions and the entire health sector is contrary to democracy, human rights and the rule of law," said the joint secretary and spokesperson for the Commission. It is written in the statement issued by Tikaram Pokharel on Thursday.
NHRC has drawn the attention of the Government of Nepal, health workers and all concerned parties not to attack, misbehave and beat health workers under any pretext, not to vandalize and attack sensitive places like health institutions, not to protest by shutting down health services and to ensure citizens' right to health care.
(RSS)
