They have put forth a long list of demands--some justifiable but others outright ridiculous, unbecoming to have come from such an ‘intellectual class’. They have rightly demanded professional security, which they should get. The government has introduced the Health Professional Protection Act in April and an emergency cabinet meeting Monday decided to make regulations within a month. The government should already have made regulations in all these months and cannot wash its hands off the issue after introducing it. We have been helplessly witnessing the gross violation of all kinds of laws in the country and the government should ensure that the Health Professional Protection Regulations are enforced to lift the sagging morale of doctors.
This lack of security is a serious issue. But does it warrant such a serious step from the doctors? Remember, doctors are not the only persons who feel insecure in a country where even Chief District Officers and security personnel are not secure. DSP Dilip Chaudhary would be the latest one to testify. Should the security forces also go on a strike to end even the semblance of sense of security? How can a doctor says/he will not attend patients for a day? Trying to escape by saying that emergency services have not been obstructed is akin to a goon seeking amnesty for not killing somebody and just breaking his limbs. I have just discussed the issue of security till now because the other demands put forward come nowhere near in terms of justification for such a step with a few giving a sense that doctors believe they are more equal than others.
The other strong demand put forward by NMA is making Level 9 as the entry level position for appointment of doctors in the government service. Why should a doctor (an MBBS graduate) be treated differently than other graduates? While other officers, including engineers, enter the government services at the sixth level (section officer), why should they be given entry at a level above than under-secretary (8th level is equivalent to under-secretary and 10th to joint secretary)? Likewise, the doctors have asked for waiver of additional tax of five percent levied on private health institutions and doctors practising in private clinics and nursing homes. Why should they be treated differently from other institutions that are paying the additional tax? The doctors should not be treated differently just because their bargaining chip of strike at hospitals has a graver consequence. Wouldn’t it be injustice to others if the government cedes to these demands? Can the government afford to invite others to protest by giving special treatment to doctors?
They have asked to make a provision which will ensure that a doctor, who has once served at remote places, should not have to work at remote places again. The doctors should be honest and ask to themselves how many of them have served at a remote place. The rural people are already suffering due to lack of doctors in government hospitals. Does the NMA now want to provide legal justification to the sufferings of poor with this provision?
One of their demands includes customs concession on vehicle for a doctor who has served for more than seven years. Most of those who have served for seven years already have a vehicle which shows that they can afford a car even under current arrangements. This demand reminds one of similar facility once given to lawmakers which cultivated the notorious ‘Pajero Culture’ in the country. Even the politicians have scrapped that provision out of embarrassment. It is very disturbing to see how doctors are not embarrassed to make such demand.
Doctors should not forget they are among the most privileged and educated class of society. The demands like seeking tax concessions on car or halting services seeking MBBS quotas for their children, as done by the faculty doctors at the TUTH in September, does nothing but tarnish the image of doctors.
The doctors should not be swayed by the banda culture prevalent in Nepal. Seeking forgiveness from the common people for the inconvenience and hardship of a day will do nothing to lessen the pain of the patients. No cause can justify the sufferings of a sick patient. If doctors try to emulate politicians by calling bandas in this fashion, they may even lose the moral high ground to ask for special treatment for themselves.
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