Bheri Hospital (Covid) Incident

Hospital: Bheri Hospital, Nepalgunj, Nepal

Victims: 2 on-duty nurses and 1 on-duty doctor

Type of violence: Physical

Event: The deceased’s son and brothers had assaulted a doctor and two nurses alleging that their relative died after he was put on ventilator support. The attackers had also barged into the intensive care unit of the hospital and vandalized medical equipment.

A nurse was working in the intensive care unit (ICU) when a hand grabbed her neck and choked her just as she looked behind. “She’s the one responsible,” said the perpetrator, whose brother had succumbed to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), as his henchmen thrashed other staff on duty. Luckily a relative of another patient rescued the nurse from the vice of the attacker. The staff fled to the duty room. Huddled in the duty room, they wailed for their safety as the perpetrators banged at the door. They then ran into the toilet inside the duty room just as the duty room’s door was broken open. As the door of the toilet could not keep them from the offenders, three nurses and a doctor jumped off the second floor, fearing for their lives. Fortunately, they landed on the sand and ran to safety. Two patients died because of lack of care amidst the chaos.

News Links:

1. The wounded healer during COVID-19: unraveling the violence against healthcare workers in Nepal | Published in Journal of Global Health Economics and Policy (scholasticahq.com)
2. Doctors, health workers thrashed in Bheri Hospital | Nepalnews
3. Health workers protest at Bheri Hospital following attack on medical personnel (kathmandupost.com)
4. Health workers at Bheri Hospital call probe committee’s report unfair (kathmandupost.com)
5. Bheri Hospital staffers stage protests demanding action against culprits assaulting on-duty hospital staff - The Himalayan Times
6. Nepalgunj tense as mob attacks Bheri Hospital doctors - OnlineKhabar English News
7. Health workers at Bheri Hospital attacked by relatives of deceased patient - myRepublica
8. एमाले लुम्बिनी प्रदेश कमिटी सदस्यले गरे भेरी अस्पतालमा डाक्टर र नर्समाथि कुटपिट :: सेतोपाटी संवाददाता :: Setopati

Perpetrator(s):

1. Manbahadur Rawat (member of UML party)
2. Bharat Rawat
3. Lokraj Rawat