Kathmandu, Sept 29 (RSS): The doctors have called off their protests after a four-point agreement was reached between the Nepal Medical Association (NMA) and the government sides today.

The agreement was reached in the witness of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.

The doctors had closed the OPD services except emergency at the hospitals across the country at the call of the NMA in protest against a provision included in the Act related to the security of doctors, health professionals and health institutions.

As per the provision incorporated in the Act, the doctors are required to compensate the victims and their family members in case of the death or damage to the health of the patient due to the doctor’s negligence.

A discussion between NMA representatives and the Council of Ministers at the Cabinet meeting on September 18 on the issue of revising the Act could not sort out the NMA’s demand of ‘jail without bail’ meaning that anyone manhandling the health professionals and vandalizing the health institutions in case of the suspected death due to doctors’ negligence should be detained and taken into custody without bail, until investigation into the ‘suspected death due to doctors’ negligence’ is fully investigated.

Spokesman at the Ministry of Health, Dr Shree Krishna Giri said that it has been agreed to amend the Act Related to Security of Health Institution and Health Professionals, 2066 BS through consensus between NMA and the government.

NMA withdrew its protest programmes after the government made a written commitment to guarantee the security to the health professionals and health institutions.

The talks were held at the Prime Minister’s official residence at Baluwatar. Secretary at the Ministry of Health Dr Kiran Regmi and NMA president Dr Muktiram Shrestha have signed on the agreement.