KATHMANDU: Kidney patients and individuals suffering from various chronic diseases staged a protest at Maitighar Mandala on Tuesday, demanding better healthcare support and stronger government action.

The Kidney Patients Concern Society, which advocates for the rights and welfare of kidney patients, organized the demonstration alleging that the government has ignored their long-standing demands.

Gathering at Maitighar, patients and their relatives called for easier access to kidney treatment, free medicines, and more effective implementation of state-provided facilities for critically ill patients. They also stressed the need to ensure the right to life for patients suffering from severe conditions.

After the protest, officials from the Ministry of Health and Population received a memorandum submitted by the demonstrators.

The protesters demanded better management of dialysis services across hospitals nationwide, free or subsidized costly medicines for transplant recipients and chronically ill patients, and regular and smooth distribution of the government-announced living allowance for seriously ill patients.

They warned that if their demands are not addressed soon, they would launch stronger protests. Ministry officials, meanwhile, assured them that their concerns would be taken seriously and forwarded to the concerned authorities.

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