Residents, medical officers and intern doctors have boycotted non-emergency services in medical colleges and institutes across the country since Wednesday. He has also performed in hospitals and health institutions across the country.

They have been boycotting the OPD services for 3 hours every day against the decision of the Minister of Health and Education. Kathmandu valley doctors staged a sit-in at Maitighar, boycotting services. The Safe Workplace for Health Workers Struggle Committee has demanded that the decision made by Health Minister Pradeep Paudel and Education Minister Vidya Bhattarai be revoked last week, and that the wages of interns and resident doctors be maintained at the same level as the government minimum. 

The committee has also demanded that the provision of service after completion of post-graduate level (PG) of medical education should be removed and their duty and vacation time should be fixed.

The minister, who is also the vice-chairman of the Medical Education Commission, had decided to provide a monthly subsistence allowance of 25,000 to 35,000 rupees to resident doctors studying in private medical colleges. It was decided to provide free study of MD, MS and other subjects in private medical colleges on the condition of working for two years. They say that the decision is an insult to doctors. 

Ministry of Health spokesperson Dr. Prakash Budhathoki said that it is unfair to protest by stopping essential services. The service has not been completely stopped as only some residents have boycotted the service. We are understanding with the hospitals," he said. He said that the Ministry of Health is taking initiatives to resolve this through negotiations and the Prime Minister, Minister of Education and Minister of Health are also showing interest. We also agree with the demand of resident doctors. A middle way was found and a decision was made regarding allowances. On the other hand, private medical colleges are also dissatisfied, he said. 

There is a demand for residential doctors to get the 8th tehsarah subsistence allowance (48 thousand per month) and to set the duty period in the government medical college. Ministers Paudel and Bhattarai had decided to make a legal arrangement to give subsistence allowance of 25,000 in the first year, 30,000 in the second year and 35,000 in the third year. But due to the said decision, resident doctors complain of labor exploitation. 

Medical colleges have been making resident doctors work more hours than prescribed by the Labor Act, so they also demand that the duty period should be fixed. In the demand letter put forward by the Sangharsh Committee, it is mentioned that there should be a maximum of 80 hours of duty in a week, a maximum of 2 times a week of 24 hours of duty, leave after each duty, maternity leave, annual 21 days of ordinary and 7 days of study leave.

Resident doctors will not return to work until the demand is met. Sesharaj Ghimire said. The government did not listen when they did not work in the OPD for 3 hours a day as a symbol. So far, there has been no positive response," he said. The

committee had protested two years ago and demanded to give allowances like the government. At that time, there was an agreement between the Sangharsh Committee and the Ministry of Health to provide subsistence allowance as per the demand. The Ministry sent the Medical Education Commission to implement the agreement.