KATHMANDU, Aug 17: Majority of the lawmakers at a parliamentary committee have stressed the need for implementing the deal signed between the government and Dr Govinda KC and bringing the Medical Education Act in line with the agreement. However, a few lawmakers insisted that the new act should not infringe upon the rights of the provinces.

Medical Education Bill, which was drafted to regulate the medical education sector, is currently under discussion in parliament. The lawmakers were participating in a discussion organized by the parliament’s Education and Health Committee at Singhdurbar on Wednesday.

Nearly five dozen of lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties attended the discussion. 

Former health minister Gagan Thapa said that the agreement between the government and Dr KC could become a part of the act. “I proposed amendment for forming a high-level commission headed by the education minister instead of the prime minister and increasing the cutoff mark of entrance test to study medical science from existing 50 percent to 60 percent,” he added.

Lawmaker Krishna Bhakta Pokharel said that the issues raised by Dr KC are already enshrined in the constitution. “If the government intends to implement socialism as per its principles and the spirit of the constitution, the agreement with Dr KC should be adopted without change,” he said.

The government last month signed a nine-point agreement, promising to address all the demands raised by Dr KC on the 27th day of his 15th hunger strike. 

Dr KC’s demands include 75 percent scholarships in government medical colleges, restriction to issue affiliation to medical colleges in Kathmandu Valley for 10 years, a university issuing affiliation to only five medical colleges, three-year operation of hospital to get affiliation for medical colleges and opening at least a government medical college in each of the seven provinces. 

Saying that Mathema taskforce report was the need of the country, the lawmakers also said that Dr KC’s demands were based on the taskforce’s report. They also suggested that Dr KC and Prof Kedar Bhakta Mathema be invited to the committee for discussion as part of consultation with the stakeholders.

TUTH director should be appointed on the basis of seniority: Dr KC

Meanwhile, Dr KC has urged the government to appoint executive director at the TU Teaching Hospital on the basis of seniority.

The committee formed to shortlist candidates for appointment an executive director at the TUTH has been preparing to nominate junior candidates under the influence of the political parties, Dr KC said in a statement Wednesday.   

 
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