The government decision comes three days prior to Dr KC's threat to launch his eighth fast-unto-death kicks in on Monday.
A cabinet meeting held at Singha Durbar Friday decided to form a new medical commission headed by Education Minister Giriraj Mani Pokharel, with Dr Bhagwan Koirala as vice-chairman.
Communications minister Sher Dhan Rai said the commission will be responsible for devising a national policy on medical education. Similarly, the commission will monitor whether or not the decisions taken by the government for improving quality and professionalism in the medical sector are effectively implemented.
He informed that the cabinet has appointed Dr Shreejana Shrestha, Prof Dr Arjun Karki, Prof Dr Jagadish Agrawal, Dr Krishna Giri and Dr Suresh Kaderiya as members of the commission. Similarly, the secretary and joint-secretary at the Ministry of Health and Education and the presidents of Nepal Medical Council and Nepal Nursing Council are ex-officio members.
"As the previously formed commission was not acceptable to Dr KC, the cabinet decided to form a new commission with Dr Koirala as executive chief," said Minister for Water and Sanitation Prem Bahadur Singh. The previous commission was headed by the education minister and led by Dr Jagadish Agrawal. However, Dr KC had demanded the formation of a commission headed by the prime minister.
The new commission has been formed as per the recommendation of a high-level taskforce formed by the previous government on November 17, 2014 and led by former vice-chancellor of Tribhuvan University Kedar Bhakta Mathema.
The new commission will formulate necessary strategies for implementing the agreements reached between the government and Dr KC at various times. Some of Dr KC's major demands are formation of a committee to investigate all the activities of Nepal Medical Council and look into the issue of fees charged by various medical colleges and universities.
Similarly, Dr KC has also demanded that the government withdraw the Manmohan Adhikari Academy of Health Sciences Bill-2015.
Meanwhile, the cabinet has promoted four joint-secretaries -- Chandra Ghimire, Sashi Shekhar Shrestha, Shankar Koirala and Laxmi Dhakal. Similarly, Mukunda Ghimire has been appointed acting regional chief for the Far-Western Region. The cabinet has also appointed secretaries at the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Local Development, Ministry of Physical Infrastructures and Ministry of Land Reforms as members of the Lumbini Development Council.
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