KATHMANDU, Nepal - On Thursday, the National Human Rights Commission expressed its grave concern over attacks and mistreatment of medical professionals treating patients and vandalism in hospitals.

The constitutional body issued a statement asking those involved in such incidents to refrain from attacking doctors and foster a climate allowing seamless healthcare services.

The commission's spokesperson, Tikaram Pokharel, released a statement in which he stated that the commission had been made seriously aware of the attacks and mistreatment of medical professionals working in many hospitals in the districts of Kaski, Makwanpur, Lamjung, and Chitwan as well as the vandalism of medical facilities. The statement said it was also worried about how the doctors' strike would affect public health.

The commission added that it was constantly keeping an eye on instances of assaults on medical professionals as well as any issues patients may be having as a result.

It continued by stating that patients had been denied access to medical care due to doctors' agitation, which resulted in the closure of all services on September 26 and 27, except for emergencies, to demand peace, security, and legal action against those responsible for the incident.

The statement reads, "Health workers' decision to go on strike by shutting down the health services affects not only the fundamental right of citizens to receive health care but also creates a risk of the collapse of the health institutions."

According to the commission, attacking medical facilities and the entire healthcare industry would be against democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

Therefore, the commission "draws the attention of the government, health professionals, and all concerned parties to ensure the right of citizens to health care, not to attack and mistreat health workers under any pretext, not to vandalize and attack sensitive places like health institutions, to not protest by shutting down health services, and to ensure the right of citizens to health care," the commission stated.