Three Chinese doctors face possible deportation from Nepal after the Nepal Medical Council (NMC) suspended their temporary registrations over their involvement in an illegally operating hospital in Kathmandu.

The council, the national regulator of medical doctors and dentists, said that it had granted temporary permission to the Chinese doctors to work in Nepal but had not authorised them to practise at the illegally operating hospital.

“We found that they were affiliated with an illegally operating hospital in Kathmandu and were practising medicine there,” said Dipendra Pandey, acting registrar of the council. “The hospital, which had been operating for over seven months, has been found luring patients through misleading information on social media and charging excessively.”

The three Chinese doctors whose temporary registrations were suspended are Dr Ou Xianlin, Dr Chen Xiaolin, and Dr Liu Jiqin.

Officials at the council said that the Chinese doctors are not on tourist visas and that they no longer have a legal basis to remain in Nepal after their temporary registrations were suspended. Foreign doctors are not allowed to examine patients in Nepal without obtaining permission from the council.

“We have also written to the Department of Health Services to coordinate with the Department of Immigration to deport the Chinese doctors, as their stay in Nepal has become illegal,” an official at the council told the Post requesting anonymity, as the issue is serious and could impact relations with the northern neighbour. “We avoid using harsh words, but the issue is serious in itself.”

A full board meeting of the council held on Wednesday also wrote to the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, recommending that it seal the Baluwatar-based Maria Hospital, which has been operating without approval from the Ministry of Health and Food Safety or any other relevant agency.

Officials say it is now up to the Kathmandu Metropolitan City and other state agencies to decide when to shut down the hospital.

Along with that, the national regulator has also written to the District Administration Office and the District Police Range, Kathmandu, urging them to investigate the hospital and its activities and take legal action.

Council members, who visited Maria Hospital, said the hospital administration had been found misusing the names and license numbers of Nepali doctors in advertisements on social media and on signboards.

“We have also sought clarification from Nepali doctors working at Maria Hospital. They have been asked to respond within three days,” said Pandey. “Further action will be taken after studying their clarifications.”

Council officials said they have been investigating several complaints involving illegally operating hospitals and health facilities across the country. They also urged the general people to inform the council about unlicenced health facilities and any wrongdoing committed by them.