Kathmandu, January 30

Minister of Education, Science and Technology Giriraj Mani Pokharel said the government was the guardian of senior orthopaedic surgeon Dr KC and it would save his life. However, Minister Pokharel said that the government could not take the responsibility for ending his fast-unto-death.

Talking to The Himalayan Times over phone, Minister Pokharel said the government respected the willpower of Dr KC, but he should understand the situation.“We are worried about the heath condition of Dr KC and urge him to end his hunger strike. In the current situation, Dr KC has no other option but to end hunger strike as his reputation is at stake,” he said and added that the agitating doctor should utilise his energy in serving the country by leading Medical Education Commission instead of wasting time staging strikes.

Minister Pokharel also informed that the National Medical Education Bill was likely to be passed by the National Assembly tomorrow.

Meanwhile, National Assembly member Brishesh Chandra Lal registered a proposal seeking amendment to  the National Medical Education Bill as per the agreement between the government and Dr KC in the Parliament Secretariat today. He proposed  to mention the Kedar Bhakta Mathema-led commission’s recommendation in the preamble of the bill.

The amendment proposal seeks phasing out short-term CTEVT courses within five years and allowing a university to grant affiliation to a maximum of five medical colleges.

Lal shared that the government should amend the National Medical Education Bill as per the agreement signed with Dr KC. “It will be easier for the government to address the demands of Dr KC through the amendment proposal,” he added.

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