The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has concluded that dozens of foreign doctors are illegally working in Nepal after the police raided five hospitals in Kathmandu Valley on January 29.
The CIB has said such doctors have been illegally working in connivance with hospitals and health institutions, and service is being provided by even those who have not studied medicine. "There is grave negligence in health of people," Director of CIB Pushkar Karki told Setopati. "We have received information that foreigners are working in the health sector in different places including Kathmandu Valley. We will start operation against the promoters who are bringing foreign doctors, and the foreign doctors within a few days," Karki added.
A few hospitals and health institutions in Kathmandu Valley, Pokhara, Chitwan and Biratnagar are employing doctors who have arrived on tourist visa. The laws of the land prohibit doctors, even Nepali ones, from working in Nepal without permission of the Nepal Medical Council (NMC).
"Any doctor who wants to work in Nepal on tourist or working visa must get permission from NMC," CIB Spokesperson SP Jeevan Shrestha said. "Who will be responsible if life of the patients is compromised by the doctors working without receiving permission?" he added.
The CIB had raided Apollo International Polyclinic Thamel, CIWEC Hospital, Lainchour, China Great Wall Health Center, China People's and Chinese Dental Hospital on January 29 and arrested foreign doctors. Twelve of the arrested doctors are Chinese, one Australian while even Nepalis have been arrested.
Promoter of Apollo Meena Kumari Shrestha of Nawalparasi, Pratibha Pandey of CIWEC, and Narayan Timalsina of Great Wall are currently in custody of CIB.
