Kathmandu: The government has taken a significant step in addressing the concerns of the Nepal Medical Association (NMA) by forming a dedicated talks committee. Minister for Health and Population, Mohan Bahadur Basnet, has appointed a five-member talks team to engage in dialogue with the protesting NMA.

Dr. Bikash Devkota, the Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Health and Population, has been designated as the coordinator of this committee. Tulasinath Gautam, Joint Secretary at the Ministry, confirmed the formation of the committee. Additionally, the team includes Joint Secretaries from the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, and the Ministry of Health and Population.

The talks committee has acted swiftly by inviting the representatives of the protesting doctors to engage in discussions. The NMA, in response to the recent assault on two doctors at Sancho Hospital in Hetauda on September 13, had launched a protest, which included the closure of all services except emergency care at health facilities nationwide. Their primary demand is for appropriate action to be taken against those responsible for the assault.

This move by the government signals a commitment to resolving the issue through dialogue and addressing the concerns of the medical professionals, thus ensuring the provision of essential healthcare services to the public.