KATHMANDU, Sept 25: Ministry of Education (MoE) has endosred Medical Education Commission formed by Cabinet under the leadership of Minister for Education Chitra Lekha Yadav on Thursday, the sixth day of Dr Govinda KC's ongoing fast-unto-death.
While negotiating an end to his sixth hunger strike earlier this month, the government had agreed with Dr KC to form a medical commission, as recommended by the Mathema task force report, to initiate and oversee reforms in medical education sector.Last week, cabinet's Social Afffair's Committe had sent the names of commission members and asked the ministry to take steps to establish the commission. The commission, with 19 members, has been formed to address the demands of Dr KC, government officials said. The commission members include health experts, doctors, lawyers and secretaries of various ministries.
However, medical students and doctors who support Dr KC said that the move still falls far short of the promises made by the government in the agreement reached with Dr KC to end his sixth hunger strike.
On Wednesday, Dr KC had organized a press conference to express dissatisfaction over the appointment of a political figure instead of an independent expert to lead the commission.
Dr KC's supporters have also severely criticized the cabinet decision to allow medical colleges to take in more than 100 students per year and permit opening of new medical colleges in the Valley, ignoring the suggestions of the Mathema report. Likewise, the government has also failed to honor its pledge to cap MBBS study fee at Rs 3.5 million for the colleges out of Valley.
Meanwhile, Dr KC's health is rapidly deteriorating, said doctors involved in monitoring his condition.
"The government has not sent any message for dialogue till the sixth day of the hunger strike, which is taking a toll on Dr KC's health," said Suman Acharya, a medical student at the Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj.
His heartbeat has shown fluctuations and his immunity has dipped badly, Acharya explained. The White Blood Cell in his body counted only 3,500 on the day, far below the average count of 6000, said Acahrya.
Dr KC is surviving on the normal saline induced in his body since the past few days.
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