KATHMMANDU, August 7

Dr Govinda KC, senior orthopaedic surgeon at the Institute of Medicine under Tribhuvan University, on Friday warned to stage fast-unto-death for the sixth time, demanding implementation of the report prepared by the Mathema-panel, as well as the agreements he reached with the government in the past.

Issuing a press statement on Friday, Dr KC warned to stage fast-unto-death from 4:00pm on August 12 if his six-point demand was not addressed by the government by August 11.

His demands include implementation of the report submitted by a high-level task force that was formed to recommend national policy on Health Profession Education.

The panel led by Kedar Bhakta Mathema, former vice-chancellor of Tribhuvan University, had submitted its report to Prime Minister Sushil Koirala on June 29 and it was made public on August 4.

Dr KC accused the government of being irresponsible towards implementation of the report by forming a so-called committee to look into it. “Most of earlier achievements, as well as great opportunities for reforms in Nepali health sector, will be lost if the report is not implemented,” he said in the statement.

He suggested that the government should begin the process of drafting the policies and laws through a Cabinet decision in order to implement the Mathema-led panel’s report at the earliest.

He asked the government to form Health Profession Education Commission under the chairmanship of the PM to look into all the concerns of medical education sector, such as common entrance, accreditation, core curriculum framework, institution-wise and sector-wise coordination, as well as other tasks as recommended by the report.

“The government should send circular to universities and Medical Council directing them to implement the provisions, such as fixing the students’ number, fee ceiling, compulsory entrance exam, minimum result for continuous affiliation and other provisions that can be implemented from the coming academic session,” he said.

He also demanded the appointment of university officials on the basis of seniority and work competence, not political affiliation; submission of a Medical University Bill at the Parliament and investigation into alleged anomalies by former officials of the Institute of Medicine by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority, among others.

Dr KC had staged fast-unto-death with several demands related to the medical sector for five times in the last few years. All of his protests had ended in agreements with the government.

His demands

• Implement the report submitted by a high-level task force that was formed to recommend national policy on Health Profession Education

• Form a Health Profession Education Commission under the chairmanship of the PM to look into all the concerns of medical education sector

• Appoint university officials on the basis of seniority and work competence, and not on the basis of political affiliation

• Ask CIAA to investigate alleged anomalies by former officials of the Institute of Medicine