KATHMANDU April 30: A three-member probe committee formed by the Ministry of Health (MoH) has submitted its report to Health Minister Gagan Thapa recommending him to take necessary action against doctors and administrative staffers of Manipal Medical College for negligence.
The probe panel concluded that both the administrative officials and doctors of Pokhara-based Manipal Medical College were accountable for not treating the victims of Jomsom bus accident on April 22.
The ministry formed the three-member committee to investigate into the incident under the coordination of Dr Bhola Ram Shrestha. Other members of the committee include Dr Dhundi Raj Poudel of Bir Hospital and under-secretary of the MoH Bhavanath Khatiwada. The committee was asked to submit its report within three days.
“We have submitted the report to Minster Thapa, recommending him to take necessary action against them,” said Dr Shrestha. “The ministry will forward the report to the Ministry of Law before taking any legal action,” he added. “After then, concerned authorities will take necessary action as per the law.”
Nepal Medical Council (NMC) will take action against the doctors involved as per the medical code of conduct while the Ministry of Education will look into the registration of the medical college and the hospital authority will take action against its administrative staffers, according to Dr Shrestha.
Dr Dilip Sharma, registrar at the NMC, said that they would initiate action after they receive the report with the recommendation. “Code of conduct does not allow doctors on duty to deny treatment to patients. We can suspend the certificate of such doctors for a certain period or issue warning against them as per the rules,” he added.
The ministry also sought clarification from the college mentioning that the college violated Article 35(1) of the constitution, which states that none of the citizens will be deprived of basic emergency health services.
The ministry has also questioned why the registration of the medical college should not be scrapped? After looking into the report submitted to the ministry, the necessary decision will be taken, said the officials at the ministry.
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