Kathmandu. KATHMANDU: The government and Nepal Medical Association have reached an agreement today. With this agreement, the doctors have called off their ongoing protests.

The Nepal Medical Association (NMA) had shut down health services and other health facilities across the country on Tuesday and Wednesday to pile pressure for action against the culprits. A five-point agreement has been reached between the government and Nepal Medical Association today to resolve the dispute.

The agreement was signed after a discussion between the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies and the Nepal Medical Association at the Ministry of Health and Food Hygiene this afternoon.

The agreement also pledged to effectively implement the Act Related to Security of Health Workers and Health Institutions, 2066 BS. It has also been agreed that the government would formulate necessary directives for the implementation of the security of health workers as per the provisions of the Act and necessary coordination would be made among the ministries concerned to take legal action against the incidents of vandalism in health facilities and attacks on health workers.

Similarly, an action plan would be prepared for ensuring the security of health institutions and a taskforce would be formed in collaboration with Nepal Medical Association for the implementation of the action plan.

As per the agreement, the Ministry of Health and Food Security would form a taskforce to make necessary amendment to the Consumer Protection Act-2075 BS on the basis of the report of the taskforce.

Secretary at the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Dr Parashar Dhungana, Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Narayan Prasad Sharma Duwadi, Secretary at the Ministry of Health and Food Hygiene Dr Bikas Devkota and President of Nepal Medical Association Dr Badri Rijal among others signed the agreement to this effect.