Doctors' Woes Resolved

The Medical Education Commission (MEC) has decided to raise the monthly stipend for resident doctors at private medical colleges on a par with those working in government health institutions. The commission has decided to provide Rs. 48,737 to all the resident doctors pursuing MD/MS degrees in private medical colleges from the date of the decision. The decision is expected to improve the financial status of resident doctors in private institutions. However, they have continued to hit the streets, demanding that the medical colleges announce from which day the decision will come into effect. They have been staging protests under the auspices of the Nepal Medical Association, an umbrella body of doctors, shutting down all services except emergency and intensive care since April 25.