Doctors Protest in Maitighar with Seven Demands

Kathmandu. Doctors have protested in Maitighar with 7 demands. 

Their demand is that the duty hours of trainee doctors should not exceed a maximum of 12 hours per day and 72 hours per week as stipulated by Nepal's Labor Act 2074.  

Their demand is that if the working hours exceed 48 hours per week, they should be provided with an allowance for overtime work as per the Labor Act.  

These are the demands:  

1. Trainee doctors (intern and resident doctors) duty hours should not exceed a maximum of 12 hours per day and 72 hours per week as stipulated by Nepal's Labor Act 2074. Also, one day off per week should be arranged.  

2. All trainee female doctors should be provided with paid maternity leave as per the law. They should be allowed to continue their studies and training without any hindrance after childbirth. Also, all female health workers (contractual and permanent) should be provided with maternity leave similar to permanent employees.  

3. As per the agreement with the Nepal government, resident doctors should be provided with the salary of eighth-level officers, including the increased salary from the month of Shrawan, as announced in the budget speech of 2083/84. Also, if the working hours exceed 48 hours per week, an allowance should be provided for overtime work as per the Labor Act.  

4. Intern doctors are doctors who have completed 4.5 years of MBBS/BDS study and have provisional registration with the Nepal Medical Council. Intern doctors who have completed their undergraduate study should be provided with a salary equivalent to at least the sixth level of the government of Nepal. Also, if the working hours exceed 48 hours per week, an allowance should be provided as per the Labor Act.  

5. The Medical Education Commission and the Nepal Medical Council should form a committee with full authority to hear and monitor complaints regarding labor and other exploitation of trainee doctors. A committee should be formed in each medical college under the supervision of the mental health department to promote the mental health of trainee doctors.  

6. If studies have to be dropped midway for special reasons, the high penalty currently imposed on resident doctors should be reduced. To prevent the seat from going to waste, it should be adjusted by adding it to the number of first-year seats for the following year.  

7. The provision of a 1-year mandatory work experience for studying MD/MS/MDS after MBBS/BDS should be abolished. This provision forces new doctors to work in any situation, so the Medical Education Act should be amended and abolished as soon as possible.