The resident doctors of Kathmandu-based TU Teaching Hospital, Bir Hospital and Dharan-based B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, have decided to suspend services for two hours daily, except emergency and COVID-19 related-services, at their respective hospitals from today in order to put pressure on government to save Dr Govinda KC’s life and meet his demands.

The National Resident Doctors Association, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Resident Association of NAMS, Bir Hospital and Junior Resident Welfare Society, BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences made the protest program public by issuing a press release on Saturday night.

The resident doctors have said that the Government of Nepal would be responsible for the impact of the protest program to the public.

The associations have also warned that if the government does not take initiative to save Dr KC’s life by forming a negotiating team within 24 hours, it will be forced to announce more stringent protest programs.

They said that it was shameful and sad that the government had failed to initiate dialogue with the agitating doctor even 20 days into Dr KC’s 19th fast-unto-death strike.

According to Dr. Subash Devkota, president of the National Resident Doctors Association, there are about 810 resident doctors in all the three medical institutions, and they will participate in the protest expressing solidarity for Dr KC.