KATHMANDU, Sep 3: Rukumaya Gharti Magar of Nawalparasi had reached the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital on Sunday morning as prescribed by the doctors. A kidney patient, Gharti Magar, approached the hospital administration early in the morning to get admission, but in a vain.
The hospital administration refused to admit her citing the doctors' protests against newly-revised Muluki codes, which have a provision to punish the doctor if a patient dies due to doctor's negligence. Gharti Magar, who had arrived in Kathmandu from Nawalparasi for her treatment was visibly disappointed after being denied admission.
“It's too difficult to travel to Kathmandu and get a doctor's appointment,” Gharti Magar, who was waiting together with her husband on the hospital premises said adding, “But when my appointment was fixed the doctors launched protest pushing me into further trouble.”
Near 50,000 patients hit by doctors' strike
The couple is totally confused about how long to wait for treatment. “We have no idea what to do,” bemoaned Gharti Magar.
Several patients were already heading for their destinations hiring taxis after the health services other than emergency were halted across the country including at the TUTH, the country's largest hospital. Among the patients visiting the TUTH, those from far-flung villages were suffering the most.
The hospital administration asked those with serious problems to go to the emergency and others to leave. As a result, the emergency ward was jam-packed with patients. Doctors were to be seen providing treatment to only those patients who were already admitted at the general, emergency and surgical wards.
Santoshi Aryal, a local from Balaju, who was waiting at the hospital Sunday from the morning for the treatment of her mother's lungs problem, was angry at the protesting doctors.
Meanwhile, hundreds of doctors assembled at the Maitighar Mandala of Kathmandu on Sunday to oppose the new law. Among them were Dr. Govinda KC and Dr. Harihar Wasti.
