Services at the Rapti Academy of Health Sciences in Dang has been affected for the last month because of the doctors’ protest.

The hospital receives around 80 to 90 patients on a daily basis, but it has been referring patients to other hospitals, according to Laxmi Acharya, secretary of Ghorahi Civil Society.

Ram Moti Chaudhary of Gorahi, who had visited the hospital after suffering from stomach problems, said the hospital referred him to another hospital in Nepalgunj after conducting a preliminary checkup.

In the past month, the hospital has not admitted a single patient due to a lack of medical specialists. Keshav Kumar Sharma, the district coordinator of the Human Rights Network, said the doctors’ protest has left all the beds in the hospital empty. Sharma, who inspected the hospital on Sunday, said, “There are no doctors in the hospital. Patients have been returning without receiving treatment.” According to Sharma, the hospital should coordinate with the agitating doctors and put an end to the strike.

The agitating doctors have been protesting against vice-chancellor Dr Sangita Bhandari, claiming that she misbehaved with them and repeatedly threatened to terminate them. On August 24, 23 doctors resigned en masse citing physical and mental pressure from the hospital administration. Bhandari had approved the resignation of all doctors on the same day.

“The hospital has stopped conducting medical treatment even for victims of violence, women and children. Critical patients are being referred to other hospitals,” Acharya said.

Rapti Sub Regional Hospital, the biggest hospital in Rapti, was converted into Rapti Academy of Health Sciences in 2018. Around 2.3 million people from Rapti and its surrounding areas depend on the hospital for treatment.

According to the hospital data, around 400 patients used to receive treatment from the hospital daily.

Vice-chancellor Bhandari said two medical specialists and a medical officer are currently providing health services at the hospital.

“We have appointed one medical specialist, but he has yet to join the academy,” Bhandari said.