Kathmandu, January 20

Minister of State for Health and Population Surendra Kumar Yadav today said that the government had agreed to implement the agreement with Dr Govinda KC during his 15th hunger strike, but it could not fulfil his other demands, which were political in nature.

Minister Yadav said the government had promised to table the National Medical Education Bill in the Parliament as per his wish, but it could not fulfil the political demands Dr KC has raised in his ongoing hunger strike.

Speaking at the press meet here today, Minister Yadav said the government had requested Dr KC to give some time to manage all medical colleges as per his wish. He said, “We have been trying to manage the colleges under Tribhuvan University and Kathmandu University as they have granted affiliation to more than five medical colleges. We need some time to manage them.”

The state minister also claimed that the responsibility of looking after the medical education sector was transferred to the education ministry in 1992. “The government does not have the authority to open medical colleges in the provinces. Only provincial governments can open medical colleges in their areas,” he added.

Similarly, former state minister for health Bansidhar Mishra said many students were deprived of their right to education due to Dr KC’s protest. “Twenty per cent seats of BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences were cut because of his protest. Students are forced to study abroad due to lack of medical colleges in the country,” he said.