Kathmandu, February 6

Legal experts and experts from other fields today expressed solidarity with the Civil Campaign for Improvement in Medical Education led by former Vice Chancellor of Tribhuvan University Kedar Bhakta Mathema.

They have demanded withdrawal of the Manmohan Adhikari Academy of Health Sciences-2015 Bill, which aims to promote Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences as an autonomous academy, from the Parliament.

Speaking at a programme in the capital, constitution expert Bhimarjun Acharya took strong exception to the bill presented in the Parliament, saying it was against existing legal provisions. “The bill aims to transform an academic institute run by a cooperative into an academy,” he said.He claimed that there were more than 600 laws and acts and none have given a co-operative the right to run a medical institution.

“Clause 16 (2) states that after the endorsement of bill, the Manmohan Memorial Hospital run by a cooperative will get legal status,” he said.

“Similarly, clause 39 states that the employees of the cooperative will be automatically transferred to hospital and given permanent status on lodging application within six months,” he added.

He further said if the bill is passed, the cooperative can easily escape action on fraud charges.

Nilambar Acharya, social activist, accused the government of trying to work in favor of a private profit-oriented organisation.

“I am afraid that some people are trying to misuse the name of late UML leader Manmohan Adhikari for their vested interests,” he added. He also suggested to the government to wait till the commission formed under the education minister submits its report on the implementation of recommendations of the Mathema-led taskforce.

Dr Anjani Kumar Jha, president, Nepal Medical Association said that the bill’s entry in the parliament amid protests was not good. “The bill will further ruin the image of medical sector. Hence, the bill should be withdrawn from the Parliament.”

Former chief election commissioner Bhoj Raj Pokharel also urged the government to wait until the commission led by education minister submits its report.

Dr Govinda KC, a senior orthopedic at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, said he was relieved after the civil campaigners expressed their commitment to support his initiative to improve the quality of medical education and medical care. He also warned of staging a fast-unto-death if the government failed to withdraw the bill.

The bill was tabled in the Parliament on December 25 and is currently under discussion in the Parliamentary committee on Women, Children, Senior Citizens and Social Welfare led by UML lawmaker Ranju Kumari Jha.

The committee also includes UML lawmaker Rajendra Pandey, who is the chairperson of MNIHS, and Dr Bansidhar Mishra, who is a major shareholder of the cooperative that runs the institute.

The civil campaign for medical education improvement was formally launched today amid the programme. Along with Mathema, Dr Madan Upadhaya, Dr Upendra Devkota, Bhoj Raj Pokharel, political expert Krishna Khanal, former chief secretaries Leela Mani Paudel and Bimal Koirala, Kul Chandra Gautam, social worker Anuradha Koirala, and popular artistes Madan Krishna Shrestha and Hari Bansha Acharya also expressed their solidarity with the campaign.

According to Mathema, they will meet Prime MInister KP Oli and Speaker Onsari Ghartimagar soon to urge them to withdraw the bill.