Services affected, classes postponed after mass resignation by BPKIHS doctors

By Nisha Rai,Dharan, Oct. 14:The Dharan-based BP Koirala Institute of Health Science (BPKIHS), commonly known as Ghopa Camp, is the centre for medical services for thousands of citizens of Eastern Nepal. However, its services have been affected multiple times over the past few months.

Moreover, the mass resignation by 177 doctors of the institution submitted to the Minister of Health and Population by reaching Kathmandu on Wednesday has only intensified the problem.

While the patients arriving at the BPKIHS are not finding doctors to seek treatment for their ailments, regular classes of aspiring doctors have also been obstructed.

As per a memorandum submitted to the Minister while handing over the resignation letters, the agitating doctors argued that the promotion of non-medical staff had stopped for 15 years and that of doctors for seven years.

According to them, the lack of promotion had led more than 50 doctors to leave the institution in the past two years. They also stressed that there was a lack of professor-level doctors in the BPKIHS to provide quality medical education.

Amidst the problems, medical students of the BPKIHS organised a rally on Friday demanding the resumption of classes and services for patients. 

The rally was concluded through a mass gathering in front of the Office of the Vice Chancellor of the BPKIHS. 

“The government cannot turn its eyes away from the problems of the BPKIHS. There have been no academic activities for the past two weeks. It is a saddening situation,” said Om Shanti Razak, chairman of the Student Welfare Society.

Meanwhile, doctors of the BPKIHS argued that they could not take part either in the treatment or diagnosis of patients or the classes of the students as they had already tendered resignation.