The Nepal Medical Association (NMA) has announced a nationwide shutdown of all non-emergency hospital services on Tuesday, accusing the state of failing to protect doctors and healthcare workers.

In a statement, the association said it would also escalate its protests in the coming days.

The NMA has been demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the violent attack on doctors and healthcare workers, and the vandalism at Narayani Hospital in Birgunj on Saturday.

The association said the decision to suspend non-essential services was taken in protest against the government's failure to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The NMA also condemned what it described as police intimidation and mistreatment of doctors during the protests. It alleged that police verbally abused and harassed several physicians, including members of the association's central executive committee and the president of its Narayani chapter, instead of taking action against those responsible for the hospital attack.

The association said such actions by the authorities were unacceptable and warned that further protest programmes would follow unless those involved in the attack are arrested and legal action is taken against them.

Meanwhile, doctors at Narayani Hospital in Birgunj have begun submitting mass resignations, demanding the resignation of the chief district officer and district police chief of Parsa after Saturday’s attack on medical staff and vandalism at the hospital.

The doctors launched their protest demanding the resignation of the two officials after the incident. They submitted their collective resignations after their demand was not addressed.

They have warned that if the chief district officer and the Superintendent of Police of Parsa do not resign by Tuesday, doctors across the country will also submit their resignations in solidarity.

According to hospital spokesperson Dr Uday Narayan Singh, 30 of the hospital’s 70 doctors submitted their resignation letters to Medical Superintendent Chittaranjan Sah at around 10pm on Monday. The remaining 40 doctors were expected to submit their resignation letters after collecting signatures.

The protesting doctors have demanded that those responsible for the attack be brought to justice and that the hospital ensure a safe working environment for medical professionals.