KATHMANDU, April 4: The Medical Education Ordinance has been approved by the parliament on Tuesday.
The government had tabled the Medical Education Ordinance in the parliament on March 29 after warning from Dr Govinda KC, who has been advocating for medical education reform, to stage fast-unto-death if the ordinance was not endorsed by the parliament.
Medical Education ordinance to be tabled in Parliament
Postponing his 15th hunger strike scheduled to begin from March 18, Dr KC had urged the government to approve the Medical Education Ordinance from the parliament by April 13. The parliament secretariat confirmed that the ordinance, which provisions 75 percent seats under free scholarship in public medical colleges and no new private affiliation in Kathmandu Valley for the next 10 years, was endorsed by the parliament on Tuesday.
The ordinance was issued by the previous government led by Sher Bahadur Deuba on October 23 last year in the absence of the parliament. President Bidya Devi Bhandari had authenticated the ordinance on November 10, 2017. However, the ordinance needs to be replaced by a replacement bill within 60 days of the commencement of the parliament. The parliament session began on March 5 and the ordinance must be replaced by May 3.
According to government sources, the replacement bill will be brought later after detailed discussion with some amendments on provisions of the Medical Education Bill.
Dr KC started his 13th fast-unto-death on October 5, 2017, demanding the Medical Education Act as per the recommendation of the Mathema Commission.
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