DHARAN, Jan 10: Though the 43rd senate meeting of BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS) is taking place today, the faculty doctors at the institute have continued their protests at the institute presenting their demands.

On Thursday, the members of the Health and Dental Health Faculty of Teachers Welfare Society of the institute staged demonstration for an hour in front of the vice-chancellor’s office. The faculty doctors staged the demonstration from 9 am to 10 am, without disturbing the health services at the institute. They started their demonstration from Wednesday.

According to Dr Bishnu Pokharel, chairman of the welfare society, the protest will continue until the senate meeting. “And, if our demands are not addressed by the senate, the faculty doctors will discuss further steps to continue the protest,” Pokharel said, adding that the demands are in the intrest of not only the faculty doctors but also the institute.

The protesting faculty members have demanded a salary hike of up to 18 percent as per the decision of the government.  Likewise, the welfare society has also demanded that the institute increase the salary as per the decision of the government in the coming years.

This is one of the major reasons behind the resignation of faculty doctors at BPKIHS, the welfare society claims. The institute should find a long-term solution to the problems, according to protesting faculty doctors.

After the then health minister Upendra Yadav cancelled the meeting slated on November 8, the senate was scheduled to be held on January 10 in Kathmandu. The senate meeting is scheduled at a time when the posts of vice-chancellor and registrar are vacant at BPKIHS.

The vice-chancellor was suspended on the charge of corruption, while the post of registrar is vacant for the last six months. As both the posts are vacant, Rector Dr Guru Prasad Khanal has taken the responsibilities of both vice-chancellor and registrar. “There have been several managerial difficulties due to the absence of vice-chancellor and registrar. We are demanding that the government appoint the vice- chancellor and the registrar at the earliest,” Pokharel said.

Despite having qualified human resource, the BPKIHS has halted the regular promotion of staffers at the institute, according to the welfare society. As the promotions have been halted, the number of faculty members at the institute is below the standard of Nepal Medical Council, claims the society.

It has demanded that the institute start the regular promotion of faculty doctors. Likewise, the protesting faculty doctors have also demanded proper management of drinking water and garbage, and have raised concerns about security on the hospital premises.

According to acting vice-chancellor Dr Khanal, the BPKIHS has informed the government about the demands of the faculty doctors. “Representatives of the faculty doctors have been invited to the senate meeting,” he said, adding that the institute will address the demand of salary hike to the extent possible. 

 
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