Hospitals close down services nationwide

All private, government and teaching hospitals on Thursday have closed their services nationwide except emergency ones demanding security from the government.

The Nepal Medical Council (NMC) has called the shutdown to protest the recent vandalism of Everest Nursing Home (P) Ltd. by relatives of Narayan Shah, 39, who had died in course of kidney treatment.

Following death of Shah, his relatives last Saturday had vandalised the nursing home and issued threats of life to surgeon Dr Subodh Kumar Adhikari, who was involved in Shah's kidney stone surgery.

Shah had earlier undergone treatment in the nursing home, later he was shifted to Bir Hospital's intensive Care Unit, where he died on July 5.

Meanwhile, Shah's relatives have demanded compensation and independent probe into Shah's death.

Speaking at a press conference in the capital on Thursday Shah's wife, Uma Shah has demanded action against Dr. Adhikari.

During a meeting with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on Wednesday, doctors had also demanded to provide compensation for the vandalism in Everest Nursing Home, among others.

Doctors had chosed down all health services in hospitals except emergecy in the capital on Wednesday.

The NMC had also warned to close down all health institutions for indefinite period and to organise other protests if their demands were not addressed.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has invited the doctors for talks and has urged to withdraw strikes.