Intern Doctors Threaten Hunger Strike, Present Five-Point Ultimatum to Prime Minister

15 Shrawan, Kathmandu – MBBS and BDS intern doctors have urged the Prime Minister and Chairman of the Medical Education Commission to implement their five-point demands by 18 Shrawan. They have warned that if their demands are not addressed within the stipulated timeline set by the full meeting of the Medical Education Commission, they will commence an indefinite hunger strike starting from 19 Shrawan.

In the memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister, the intern doctors stated that they have been peacefully protesting for a long time to ensure equal pay for equal work and a monthly subsistence allowance. After repeated dialogues and appeals to the relevant authorities failed to yield concrete decisions, they have decided to intensify their movement.

The memorandum demands the immediate implementation of the report submitted on 30 Jestha 2083 by the task force chaired by the Minister of Education and Sports, Sasmita Pokharel. This report recommended that all government and private medical teaching institutions provide MBBS and BDS intern doctors with a monthly subsistence allowance equivalent to 50 percent of the starting salary of health service level eight.

The intern doctors also highlighted that the National Medical Education Act, 2075 grants the Medical Education Commission the authority to issue necessary policies and directives, urging the Commission’s full meeting to promptly decide and implement the recommended provisions. Furthermore, as per Section 7 of the Act, they have demanded that at least one official representative from their campaign be allowed to participate in the Commission’s meetings.