The Ministry of Health has decided to suspend the renewal of the operation licence of Pokhara-based Teaching Hospital and its process related to its promotion over the recent incident where the Hospital denied emergency healthcare facilities to the Kagbeni jeep accident victims. 

A meeting held under Health Minister Gagan Thapa on Sunday decided to request the Ministry of Education for action regarding the teaching licence granted to the hospital. 

The government on April 23 had formed a three-member committee to establish the truth surrounding media reports that hospital’s doctors had denied pilgrims, who were injured in the jeep accident at Kagbeni of Mustang on April 9, treatment when they were brought to the emergency ward.

The hospital doctors, who were on strike at the time, had reportedly refused to see the injured people.

The committee headed by Dr Bholaram Shrestha found both the hospital administration and doctors guilty in the case and recommended action against them. 

The Article 35(1) of the constitution stipulates that no citizen shall be deprived of emergency medical facilities. 

The ministry concluded that such a move was in violation of country’s law and the hospital administration and doctors deserved action, according to Health Minister’s legal advisor Raju Katuwal.

The ministry has instructed the Nepal Medical Council (NMC), the body that regulates the country’s medical sector, to proceed with action against the hospital director and doctors within the next 15 days as per the Nepal Medical Council Act-2020 and Rule 2024 and update the ministry. 

The hospital has also been instructed to initiate action against the agitating doctors and staff on duty that day within 15 days, the ministry said.