KATHMANDU: The Nepal Medical Association (NMA) has announced that, starting today, all medical services—except for emergency and intensive care—will be suspended at private and government hospitals, medical colleges, and clinics across the country.

In a press release issued on Thursday, the association urged all doctors to withdraw from non-emergency services as part of an ongoing protest.

As part of the demonstration, doctors and health workers in the Kathmandu Valley will gather at Maitighar Mandala at 11 a.m., followed by a sit-in protest at the Ministry of Health and Population. Similar protests will take place at District Administration Offices outside the Valley.

The press release, signed by NMA President Dr. Anil Bikram Karki, emphasized that the agitation will continue, citing two key issues: the non-payment of subsistence allowances to resident doctors and threats received from various quarters.

Postgraduate (PG) level resident doctors have been staging protests for the past few days, opposing the refusal of private medical colleges to pay the subsistence allowance set by the Medical Education Commission.

On Thursday, the protesting doctors also demonstrated in front of the Ministry of Health in Maitighar, denouncing the exploitation of their labor.

They are demanding that the subsistence allowance be provided at the eighth level—Rs. 48,000 per month—as stipulated by the commission. However, private medical college operators have stated they are unable to meet this demand.