The Nepal Medical Association has announced it will halt services at all hospitals across the country, except for emergency care, on Sunday in protest against the attacks on doctors in Hetauda.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the umbrella body of medical and dental doctors said it was forced to halt the services as the government didn’t bring the guilty to book.

The association on Wednesday had issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the government demanding action against those involved in the attack.

“All services except emergency care in all government health institutions, hospitals, medical colleges, private hospitals and clinics across the country will be completely closed on Sunday,” reads the statement undersigned by NMA President Dr Anil Bikram Karki and General Secretary Dr Sanjeeb Tiwari.

The association has demanded an investigation into the incident and prosecution for criminal offence and offence as per the Security of Health Workers and Health Organisations Act.

Likewise, it has demanded that the government arrange security personnel at health institutions across the country so that the institutions would be able to provide services in an environment free of any fear.

An unruly group barged into Sancho Hospital in Hetauda-1 and thrashed on-duty doctors Prashanta Bidari and Bikash Thapa on Wednesday over the death of a dengue patient a month ago.

All the health services in Hetauda have been disrupted for the past few days due to protests of the health workers.

Giving continuity to their agitation, health workers in Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City staged demonstrations in front of the Bagmati Province Assembly in Makawanpur on Saturday.

They demanded strong action against the assailants who attacked and injured on-duty doctors and security to the health workers.