KATHMANDU: Medical services across Nepal, except for emergency care, remained shut today following a nationwide protest called by the Nepal Medical Association (NMA).

The protest was launched in response to recent verdicts by consumer courts, which doctors say have encroached upon the jurisdiction of the Nepal Medical Council (NMC), the statutory regulatory body overseeing medical ethics and professional conduct. The shutdown comes after weeks of rising tensions between the medical community and the judiciary.

In recent rulings, the consumer court ordered substantial compensation in medical negligence cases: Om Hospital was directed to pay Rs 5.07 million, Himal Hospital and involved doctors Rs 14.5 million, and Grande City Hospital and its physicians Rs 5.7 million to the respective families of patients. These decisions have alarmed doctors, who argue that such cases should fall solely under the purview of the NMC.

The Nepal Medical Association has called for immediate legal reforms to limit the authority to adjudicate medical malpractice cases exclusively to the Nepal Medical Council. The Association warned that it may escalate the protest further if its demands are not addressed through legislative amendment.

Adding to the discontent, the Patan High Court recently issued a contempt notice against NMA General Secretary Dr. Sanjiv Tiwari, ordering him to appear in court within seven days. This triggered an escalation in protest actions.

The NMA had earlier initiated symbolic protests by urging doctors and health workers across the country to wear black armbands starting from Asar 17 (July 1).

Today’s service boycott left patients in distress across hospitals, with many being turned away from scheduled treatments and outpatient services.

At least nine major health institutions have expressed solidarity with the NMA’s protest.