DHAKA: Nepalese doctors shut hospitals and clinics across the Himalayan nation, leaving thousands of patients stranded Monday, as part of a campaign to reform medical education.

The national doctors’ association said, reports The Straits Times.

Doctors were still providing emergency and intensive care but all other services have been halted indefinitely since Sunday in a strike to support a surgeon leading the campaign, Nepal Medical Association (NMA) officials said.

Orthopedic surgeon Govinda KC, who works at the state-run Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu, began a hunger strike ten days ago to protest the alleged political appointment of the institution`s new dean.

‘We are aware that thousands of patients have been hit hard by our strike.’

BDST: 2031 HRS, JAN 20, 2014