KATHMANDU, Aug 21: The Ministry of Education has said that it is working to form a taskforce to formulate rules for appointing office bearers at the government universities as per the agreement reached between the government and Dr Govinda KC.The government signed a nine-point agreement on July 26 with medical reforms crusader Dr KC, orthopedic surgeon and professor at the Institute of Medicine (IOM), on the 27th day of his 15th hunger strike.

The government in the fifth clause of the agreement had promised to form the taskforce within 15 days of the signing of the agreement. After the government did not form the taskforce within the promised time, Dr KC met with Prime Minister KP Oli a few days ago and expressed his concerns over the delay.The ministry officials said they have proposed forming the taskforce with the ministry's joint secretary Hari Prasad Lamsal as coordinator. "The process is under way to form the taskforce," said Lamsal.

"However, the universities and the Ministry of Health and Population also need to approve the panel," he said. The taskforce will be given a month to submit its report.Sources at the Ministry of Education said the taskforce is likely to have legal expert Indra Aryal, Dr Madhur Basnet, associate professor at BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan; a joint-secretary of the Ministry of Health and Population and legal officer of the Ministry of Education as members.

This is the first step toward implementing the nine-point agreement signed with Dr KC.The bill on Medical Education is being discussed in parliament to amend it as per the spirit of the agreement.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.