Kathmandu, Sept. 13: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda has issued a five-point instruction to the Health Minister and the Education Minister to address demands put forth by Dr. Govinda KC, a senior orthopedic surgeon at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH).
PM Prachanda called Health Minister Gagan Thapa and Education Minister Dhani Ram Poudel to his official residence at Baluwatar on Tuesday and directed them to immediately initiate a process.
PM Prachanda also directed both Ministries to forward an action plan for an establishment of medical colleges in each seven provinces. The PM also directed to resolve the problem surfaced in medical education sector.
Talking to The Rising Nepal Health Minister Thapa said the Ministry would initiate process soon to work as per PM’s direction and concern regarding health sectors’ reform.
At this time when Tribhuvan University (TU) has exerted pressure on the Institute of Medicine (IoM) to grant affiliation to a Kathmandu based medical college, PM Prachanda directed all concern bodies not to grant affiliation to any new medical colleges until the Health Professional Act was formulated.
Before the PM issued the direction, senior civil society leader Kedar Bhakta Mathema, Lila Mani Poudel and Nilambar Acharya had met PM Prachanda and suggested him not to take any damaging decision regarding medical education sector.
After holding discussion with them, PM Prachanda had immediately called Health and Education Ministers and directed on the issue.
The PM also directed to withdraw the bill regarding Manamohan Health Science Academy from the parliament, which was lying ideal in the parliament for months seeking approval. PM Prachanda also directed to initiate the process to acquire properties of Manamohan Academy for Bir Hospital.
Similarly, PM Prachanda has assured to appoint dean in the IoM, which has remained vacant for months.
Dr. KC had warned to stage the ninth round of hunger strike if his demands were not met by September 19.
Dr. KC has staged hunger strikes for eight times in the last three years demanding reforms in medical education.
Just two months ago, while breaking Dr. KC’s eighth fast-unto-death protest, the government made four points agreement that included appointing IoM dean immediately, not granting affiliation to new medical colleges until the Health Professional Act was formulated.
