Nepal Medical Association (NMA) officials met with the Health and Population Minister Upendra Yadav on Sunday to remind him of their ultimatum to address their demand that the ministry withdraw the provisions in the Criminal Code regarding medical negligence.

The association had postponed their protest on September 3 after the ministry agreed to address their demand within a week. The period expires on Monday.

At Sunday’s meeting, Minister Yadav urged the NMA delegation to give him some more days to redress their concerns, citing that he was out of the country.

NMA General Secretary Dr Lochan Karki said the meeting was positive.

“Minister Yadav told us that he was trying his best to keep the promise and address our demand by Monday,” he added.

Meanwhile, Dr Dipendra Singh Raman, the information officer at the ministry, said that the agreement papers along with the proposed amendments have been forwarded to the Law Ministry.

“The papers were sent to the Law Ministry a day after the agreement was reached with the NMA, so that the deadline does not get violated,” he told the Post.

Ramesh Dhakal, spokesperson at the Law Ministry, said that the proposed amendments to Section 19 of the newly implemented Criminal Code have been forwarded to the National Assembly.

“The proposal is under discussion at the Legislative Management Committee of Parliament,” he said.

Dr Karki said they will resume their protest if their demand is not addressed by Monday.

“We will shut down the non-emergency health care services across the country from Tuesday,” he warned.