Kathmandu - Dozens of hospitals and clinics in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu remained shut Wednesday as doctors went on an indefinite strike demanding more security.

The strike was called to put pressure on the government following increasing attacks on doctors and hospitals after allegations of negligence resulting in the deaths of patients.

"Hospitals and clinics will remain shut until the government meets our demands for increased security for doctors and hospitals," the Nepal Medical Association, which called the strike, said.

"We are also protesting against a series of death threats against doctors and vandalism in hospitals," the association said.

The strike shut down more than a dozen government and private hospitals in Kathmandu as well as hundreds of private clinics and nursing homes.

However, emergency services remained open in major hospitals.

The strike affects thousands of people who had gone to hospitals to seek medical treatment unaware of the doctors' protests.

The strike followed an incident earlier this week when a family of a patient who died after kidney surgery vandalized the hospital where he was being treated and attacked doctors.

The doctors said there was a growing tendency by people to vent their anger at doctors and hospitals if their family members died during treatment.

They have rejected accusations of negligence. (dpa)