DHANGADI, JANUARY 25

Though the construction of physical infrastructure at Geta in Kailali has reached its final stage, it appears that MBBS classes won't be running here anytime soon.

Thus far, 85 per cent of construction of the medical college under the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has been completed. But it seems the government lacks the law required to start MBBS classes and there is still confusion regarding which modality the college will be running under. About three years ago, the ministry had sent a bill to the Cabinet to be remitted to the Parliament for operation of the medical college. But the bill was sent back to the Cabinet after making the required amendments to the draft bill, the Cabinet hasn't taken the bill to the Parliament yet.

Commending on the delay, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Spokesperson Dipak Sharma said the ministry was preparing the required laws. 'As we have the draft bill ready and we are making of the required laws, once the physical infrastructure work in line with the Medical Education Act is over, we can operate the hospital there. We can also start MBBS classes, but we need the related act and law and the same are in the preparatory phase now,' he said.

Sharma further said government commitment to running MBBS classes at Geta sooner or later whether by keeping Geta as a medical college or running it under a university or as an institute of health and sciences.

On his part, Geta Medical College, Infrastructure Development Committee member secretary Hemraj Pujara said hospital operation could start within a year after the required law and act are ready. 'At present, work related to construction of facilities such as garbage management, electricity, road, and water is on at Geta,' Pujara said.

A version of this article appears in the print on January 26, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.