KATHMANDU, Aug 17: The Nepal Medical Association (NMA), professional organization of doctors, has postponed its protests which had been scheduled to begin from August 17. On August 13, NMA had announced that the doctors would stop seeing patients from August 17 and surrender their apron and licenses to the Nepal Medical Council (NMC), the medical sector regulator. The doctors had announced protests after the new Criminal Code, which is coming into effect from August 17, has a provision that makes doctors liable to jail term in case of negligence and carelessness resulting in the death of a patient or damage to organs.

However, the NMC issuing statement on Thursday said it has decided to postpone the strike for 15 days. According to the statement, the government has sought 15 days to make amendments to the new Criminal Code. 

The Code has provisioned three to five-year imprisonment to a doctor as well as a fine of Rs 30,000 if a patient dies due to doctor’s negligence.

There are over 21,000 doctors registered with the NMC.

 
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