Doctors leave for Kathmandu

CHITWAN, April 28: A team of doctors from BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, Bharatpur, left for Kathmandu on Thursday to resolve a dispute over the appointment of the hospital´s executive director that has left the hospital padlocked for two months.



With the doctors leaving, all services at the hospital have been shut.[break]



“Only some nurses and medical officers remain to take care of patients who are already admitted,” said Executive Director Dr Laxmi Narayan Singh. The hospital has been padlocked since Dr Singh was appointed executive director on February 27.



The hospital was padlocked by health workers who are close to Maoists and support former executive director Dr Bhakta Man Shrestha whose term ended on September 10 last year.



Dr Shrestha, who wanted to remain in office for another term, claims that the hospital´s management board did not follow due process before appointing Dr Singh.



However, he has not lodged a formal complaint against the appointment anywhere. Health workers close to the former executive director and Dr Singh have clashed several times in the past worsening the working environment at the hospital.



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