Key Takeaways:

• Prof Dr Shivendra Jha appointed dean, returning to academic leadership
• Dharanidhar Baral named registrar, tasked with strengthening administration
• Dr Indra Kumar Limbu appointed hospital director, continuing from acting role
• Appointments expected to improve academic, administrative and hospital services

DHARAN, SEPTEMBER 2 Three key posts at the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS) have received new leadership, with experienced officials from within the institution appointed to oversee academic, administrative and hospital operations. Health and Food Hygiene Minister Nisha Meheta appointed Professor Dr Shivendra Jha as dean, Dharanidhar Baral as registrar and Dr Indra Kumar Limbu as hospital director on Tuesday, acting on the recommendation of Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Smriti Karki. Karki had recommended three candidates for each post. Jha was shortlisted alongside Prof Dr Krishna Pokhrel and Prof Dr Robin Maske for dean. For registrar, the panel included Baral, Prof Dr Shamsher Shrestha and Sagar Tamrakar, while Limbu, Dr Madhur Basnet and Seraj Ahmad Khan were recommended for hospital director. The minister selected one candidate from each panel. Jha returns to academic leadership Jha, the newly appointed dean, has extensive experience in academic administration and medical education at BPKIHS. He has previously served as academic dean and is currently head of the Department of Forensic Medicine. His long experience is expected to be an asset in managing the institute's academic affairs. Baral takes charge of administration Baral, an associate professor at the School of Public Health and Community Medicine, has experience in hospital management and administration. He will be responsible for strengthening internal administration and coordinating academic and staff management. Limbu appointed hospital director Limbu, an associate professor of prosthodontics at the College of Dental Surgery, has previously served as deputy hospital director and acting chief of the institute. He was most recently serving as acting hospital director, where his management of day-to-day hospital services and administrative coordination had received positive feedback from doctors, staff, students and service users. The appointments are expected to strengthen academic, administrative and hospital services at BPKIHS, though the new office-bearers face the challenge of addressing longstanding institutional problems and improving service delivery.