Locals protest against doctors’ stay in nearby hotel

Locals here have protested over the accommodation to doctors and nurses of Regional hospital of Pokhara Institute of Health Science in a nearby hotel. The doctors and nurses have been staying in Tulip Pokhara Inn at Baidam at Pokhara Metropolis-6.

The locals have argued that the medical workers were provided residence without consulting ward office and people in the locality.

Chairperson of community policy service centre at Baidam, Mina Bhatta, however, said they were raising voice because the doctors and nurses working in contact with the infected persons were kept in the hotel which has not met criteria for providing accommodation. Safer area is required for them, she added. “We’re not protesting but warning of insecurity. There are 52 houses of workers around the hotel. There is no well-managed parking, children are frolicking without carelessly. The medical persons working in the forefront should be kept in standard hotel.”

Similarly, hotel proprietor Bishnu Acharya informed that he provided accommodation to the doctors and nurses after receiving official request letter for it from the hospital. “They come here after hospital, enter respective rooms with proper safety and the hotel provides service by maintaining social distance,” he said, arguing, “There is nothing done to pose risk in the locality.”

Meanwhile, Gandaki chapter chair of Medical Association, Dr Nirmal Lamichhane, said the local’s protest over doctors’ stay in hospital was illogical and improper. “At present, the doctors and nurses are working in tough time, we need to help boost their morale but not protest,” he stressed.(RSS)