Medical education ordinance sent to president

Published On: October 24, 2017 04:15 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

Places a 10-year moratorium on the establishment of new medical colleges in Kathmandu Valley

KATHMANDU, Oct 23: Keeping its promise made to Dr Govinda KC, the government on Monday decided to issue an ordinance on medical education that places among other things a 10-year moratorium on the establishment of new medical colleges within Kathmandu Valley.

The ordinance will come into effect after authentication by President Bidya Devi Bhandari.

The ordinance forwarded to the president by the cabinet on Monday for her authentication, also has a provision to restrict universities from issuing affiliations to a maximum of five medical colleges each.

The provisions were included in the ordinance in line with the recommendations made by the Kedar Bhakta Mathema-led Task Force formed earlier to address Dr KC's demands. Once the ordinance comes into effect, Tribhuvan University and Kathmandu University, for instance, will not be able to issue affiliations to any new medical colleges as each of them have already issued affiliations to five medical colleges.

The government-run and public educational institutions need to provide at least 75 percent scholarships as per the provisions made in the ordinance. As per the ordinance, BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan; Institute of Medicine, Maharajgunj; National Academy of Medical Sciences; and Patan Teaching Hospital must allocate at least 75 percent scholarships.

The ordinance, however, needs to be endorsed by both the houses of the parliament within 60 days of the commencement of the House session. But it will cease to be effective if the president rejects it or is not endorsed by both the houses of the parliament within 60 days after the commencement of the parliament session.

On October 18, senior orthopedic surgeon Dr KC had ended his 13th hunger strike on the 14th day after signing a 10-point agreement with the government.

Among other things, the agreement included bringing medical education act through ordinance, reduce medical education fees at TU IOM and investigation into irregularities at various universities including the Tribhuvan University and Kathmandu University and action against those involved in irregularities.