Kathmandu, January 13

The continuing month-long strike of employees at Imadol-based KIST Medical College in Lalitpur has hit students hard. The college remains closed since December 14 after the employees launched protest demanding salary hike.

The employees at the medical college have been on strike, demanding fulfillment of their 15-point demand.The college administration has filed a writ petition at Patan High Court after failing to reach an agreement wit the agitating employees.

“We have received summons from Patan High Court as a petition has been filed against us for forcefully closing the hospital,” said Yam Bahadur Shrestha, president of Employee Union at the hospital.

Due to the protest of the employees, MBBS students have not been able to take final year practical examinations, which the Institute of Medicine has postponed until further notice. The classes for MBBS second year have also been halted.

Similarly, students haven’t been able to undergo internship. The medical college currently has a total of 600 students pursuing MBBS and BDS courses. Currently, 70 MBBS graduates are undergoing internship at the college.

“We are doing our internship in the emergency ward. There are very few patients and we aren’t able to practice much. The college administration, however, hasn’t issued any notice about  re-opening the college or exams till now,” said Arun Upreti, an MBBS graduate undergoing internship at the medical college. “If the strike goes for long, it will hit more students for sure, “ he added.