The Ministry of Health and Food Safety has directed all hospitals to ensure that healthcare services are not disrupted under any circumstances. The directive comes as doctors are halting non-emergency services nationwide on Tuesday over the attack on doctors and health workers and the vandalism at Narayani Hospital in Birgunj on Saturday.

The Nepal Medical Association (NMA) announced the nationwide suspension of non-emergency services, demanding action against those involved in the attack on healthcare workers and warning of further protests.

The ministry urged hospitals to continue providing treatment services, saying that authorities were taking steps to bring those involved in the attacks to justice.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the ministry's joint spokesperson, Dr Sameer Kumar Adhikari, said the ministry had taken serious note of recent incidents of assault and mistreatment targeting doctors, healthcare workers and health institutions.

The ministry said the concerned authorities had already initiated the process of identifying those involved in the incidents and taking legal action against them.

Following the attack on doctors and health workers at Narayani Hospital in Birgunj, Health Minister Neesha Mehta arranged for injured doctor Dr Pramod Ram to be brought to Kathmandu for further treatment and visited the National Trauma Centre to inquire about his health condition.

According to the ministry, Minister Mehta has directed security agencies to take strict action against those responsible and said the ministry was making continuous efforts to ensure that health services were not disrupted.

The ministry urged all hospitals to continue regular services, stating that healthcare is an essential, life-saving and sensitive service, and that citizens should not face any disruption while seeking treatment.

The statement also said healthcare workers have the right to provide services in a safe and respectful environment. It urged all hospitals to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of healthcare services without affecting patients’ access to treatment.