Kathmandu, July 4

Health professionals staged a demonstration here today demanding amendment to Nepal Health Professional Council Act 1996.

They have also demanded that registration of health institutions without adequate infrastructure be cancelled and examinations be held for issuing licence to health professionals. Michael Devkota, a health professional, Nepal Health Professional Council has been providing licence to health practitioners without holding any examination.

Nepal Health Professional Council has been providing licence to dentists, health assistants, ophthalmologists and physiotherapists, among others, without holding any examination.

Rajendra Khadka, president of Medical Laboratory Association of Nepal, said more than 90,000 health professionals were working without being registered at NHPC. He said NHPC had not held election of its office bearers for the past 10 years.

President of Nepal Health Professional Council Ram Prasad Bhandari said NHPC had not been able to take full shape due to confusion in the act. Of the 13 members of NHPC, four members are elected from different health faculties and three are recommended by Nepal Paramedical Council.