Health professionals' hunger strikes leave health ministry in a pickle
Summary
Intern doctor Dilli Harijan has been on a hunger strike at Maitighar Mandala demanding implementation of remuneration and respect for intern doctors’ labour. The protest has drawn solidarity from health institutions and renewed pressure on the government over repeated unimplemented agreements in the health and education sectors.
Key Points
- Intern doctor Dilli Harijan is on a hunger strike at Maitighar Mandala demanding equal pay and implementation of a task force report for intern doctors.
- The Nepal Medical Association and other health groups have backed the protest and urged the government to act immediately.
- The article links the strike to a broader pattern of repeated hunger strikes by health workers and doctors over unfulfilled government agreements.
- Critics say the health and education sectors remain low priorities, with the government allocating only half of the WHO-recommended budget for health.
