Kathmandu, September 3

Dr Govinda KC has warned of launching a fresh fast-unto-death if the government fails to cancel affiliation granted by Tribhuvan University Executive Committee to Kathmandu National Medical College, Ghattekulo.

“Suspension of affiliation is not enough. We the affiliation granted to the medical college cancelled forever as the move is against the recommendations made by the Dr Kedar Bhakta Mathema-led panel,” said Dr Abhishek Raj Singh, a member of Dr KC’s team.

Dr KC has given the government until September 6 to revoke the affiliation granted to KNMC. He has also demanded action against TUEC members who were involved in granting affiliation to the medical college.

Likewise, Dr KC has also demanded of an immediate passage of the Medical Education Bill.

Tribhuvan University Executive Committee suspended the affiliation granted to KNMC yesterday after an eight-member probe committee comprising Dr Dipendra Raman Singh, Dr Gunaraj Lohani, Dr Bholaram Shrestha, Narayan Dhakal, Dr Runa Jha, Dr Swoyam Prakash Pandit, Kabita Aryal and Bawanath Khatiwada submitted its report. The committee was formed to ascertain if KNMC met the required criteria for operation.

The Tribhuvan University Executive Committee has also formed a three-member probe committee headed by Sanat Devkota to probe if the hospital meets operational criteria and present the report to the university’s executive committee. The committee will submit its report within seven days.

“The medical college hasn’t taken permission for its operation. There are no patients in the hospital. Therefore, the hospital can’t run a medical college,” said Dr Bholaram Shrestha, chief, Curative Service Division, Ministry of Health. The probe committee has also instructed the medical college not to publish any advertisements for vacancies in the hospital.

Minister for Health Giriraj Mani Pokharel has decided to close the medical college. “The hospital is not registered legally. As the illegal operation of any organisation is regulated by the Ministry of Home Affairs we have informed the ministry to send a letter to the hospital for its immediate closure,” informed Prof Dr Shree Krishna Giri, chief, International Cooperation Division at the health ministry.

Tribhuvan University Executive Committee granted affiliation to the medical college on July 27 on the fourth day of KC’s 11th fast-unto-death to run MBBS programme. The Ministry of Education had issued permission to KNMC to run a 300-bed hospital on June 22, 2012.

An inspection team led by Dr Karbir Nath Yogi of the Institute of Medicine, TU, had recommended affiliation to the medical college in 2014. Sushil Koirala-led government had decided to halt the process of granting affiliation to any new medical college until the passage of the Medical Education Bill, which is still under consideration in the Parliament.