Cabinet decision fails to appease Dr Govinda KC

KATHMANDU: The Cabinet on Friday formed a Health Professional’s Education Commission under the leadership of the Education Minister, apparently in an response to Dr Govinda KC, who has warned to stage a hunger strike from coming Monday.

The decision, however, failed to appease the doctor as the latter said he would not compromise unless "all" of his demands were fulfilled.

The senior orthopaedic surgeon at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital on Wednesday announced that he would stage a fast-unto-death from coming Monday demanding implementation of the agreements the government had signed with him earlier.

"Okay, I can accept that decision," Dr KC told THT Online over phone on Friday evening, "But, my other demands are yet to be met."

The protesting doctor’s demands other demands include the health education policy’s implementation as an act, no affiliation to or establishment of any medical college till enactment of the act, withdrawal of the bill which is currently under discussion at the House and legal provisions to end political appointment in universities among others.

According to the Cabinet decision, Prof Dr Bhagwan Koirala has been appointed Executive Vice-Chairman of the Commission. LIkewise, Prof Dr Sirjana Shrestha, secretaries or joint-secretaries of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education as well as chairs of Nepal Medical Council and Nepal Nursing Council are members. Prof Dr Jagadish Prasad Agrawal, Dr Arjun Karki, Prof Dr Shree Krishna Giri and Dr Suresh Karaudiya have been appointed expert members.

"Though I had earlier demanded that the Prime Minister should head the Commission," he added, "The Education Minister as the head can be accepted if s/he does not have the executive role."