The nationwide strike called by the doctors ended on Friday after the agitating Nepal Medical Association (NMA), the umbrella body of Nepali medical practitioners, signed a four-point deal with government.

The agreement was reached during the talks between the government and NMA representatives in the presence of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.

All the medical services except emergency had remained shut in all the hospitals across the country for the past eight days due to the doctors’ protest.

Doctors and paramedics across the country had refused to attend to patients since Friday to protest against a Cabinet decision of September 18 that proposes introducing a law which requires the attending physician to pay compensation for harms on patients if investigations reveal the doctor’s negligence in the treatment process.

According to NMA General Secretary Dr Lochan Karki, the government has agreed to amend the law to include a provision that allows punishment to guilty involved in vandaliing hospitals and manhandaling or assaulting the doctors.

Likewise, the government has agreed to take initatives to address other demands such increasing the retirement age of doctors to 65 years, elimination of a provision to charge five percent tax to patients, and the provision to appoint health secretary from Health sector.