The Nursing Association of Nepal (NAN) and National Resident Doctors Association (NRDA) on Friday staged separate protests outside the Ministry of Health and Population with their own sets of demands.

The NAN protest was called for the implementation of the 11-point demand that the ministry had vowed to enforce back in January. The demand includes giving more autonomy and power to the Nursing Service Division, enforcing the recommended nurse-to-patient ratio, pay adjustment and incentivising the nurses working in remote areas.

“We are here protesting because the ministry reneged on its promise to address our concerns. The health sector is going to suffer if the government is not going to fix the problems faced by the nursing professionals,” said NAN President Tara Pokhrel.

The NRDA, meanwhile, protested against lack of facilities the medical students studying Doctor of Medicine, Masters of Surgery and Doctor of Medicine were getting for the service they offer to government hospitals.

They also demanded the government to reduce the mandatory service duration for MD graduates to two years from the existing five years. “We doctors are sworn in to provide health services. But the government should also show its concern regarding the facilities that are being provided to doctors working for government hospitals,” said NRDA President Dr Sumit Pandey.

To mount pressure on the government into addressing ther demand, the medical students have announced to close the academic activities of the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Maharajgunj on Sunday.

Health and Population Minister Upendra Yadav was not at the ministry to listen to the concerns of the agitating nurses and the medical students. NAN President Pokhrel said they would wait for the ministry’s response until Tuesday.

“If our concerns are still unanswered by then, we will intensify our protest,” she said.