Kathmandu, January 7

Senior Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr Govinda KC has expressed dissatisfaction with the draft National Medical Education Bill endorsed by a sub-committee of the Parliamentary Education and Health Committee yesterday saying that the draft bill does not accommodate all his demands. He has also drawn the attention of the Education and Health Committee of the Parliament towards his concern.

Organising a press conference today morning, Dr KC threatened to launch his sixteenth fast-unto-death, if the committee failed to include all the contents of the agreement signed by the government till January 9.

Dr KC has demanded changes in the draft bill endorsed by the sub-committee.

On the request of Chairperson of the Parliamentary Education and Health Committee Jayapuri Gharti, Dr KC has postponed his 16th hunger strike to be staged in Ilam till January 9.

The draft endorsed by the sub-committee doesn’t allow opening of new medical colleges as per the recommendation of the proposed high-level Medical Education Commission led by the prime minister. However, it has provisions to allow institutions outside Kathmandu valley that have already acquired letters of intent and built necessary infrastructure to operate.

The agreement reached with Dr KC calls for phasing out short-term CTEVT courses within five years after the enactment of the bill. However, the draft bill states that a decision on this issue, including phasing out and/or upgrading certain CTEVT courses, will be taken as per the recommendation of a task force formed to study the matter.

Dr KC has put forth three-point demand which includes passing National Medical Education Bill without change, action against 43 officials of Tribhuvan University as per the recommendation made by the high level National Medical Education Commission led by former Judge Gauri Bahadur Karki.

In addition, Dr KC has demanded that action be taken against culprit(s) involved in the rape and murder of Nirmala Panta. Likewise, the demand also states that a case of criminal offence be lodged against persons involved in destroying evidence, creating false evidence, torturing and opening fire at people demanding justice in Nirmala’s case

Dr KC has also demanded action against officials of Kathmandu University, who were involved in the decision to increase the cost of education. The hike in cost of education was determined by Kathmandu University against the decision of the government.

Respect others: Lawmaker Bhattarai

KATHMANDU: Nepal Communist Party Lawmaker Yogesh Bhattarai, who is also a  member of the parliamentary Education and Health committee, on Monday  requested Dr Govinda KC, a health sector reformist, not to use wrong  words at others. Explaining Dr KC’s press statement earlier in the  day, Bhattarai said Dr KC took the names of some lawmakers, including  him, and used some wrong words. “He also took the name of Prime Minister  KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamala Dahal (NCP co-chairman) and used some  wrong words,” said Bhattarai, adding, “Dr KC is good person and I have  faith in his dignity, but he needs to respect others, if he wants the  same from others.” Bhattarai said if he talks like this, he will lose  his appeal.”