Kathmandu, February 15

Staffers of National Academy of Medical Sciences have been staging protest on the premises of Bir Hospital for the last three days, demanding that the key positions in NAMS, which has remained vacant for the last six months, be filled as soon as possible.

Their other demands include appointment of  50 per cent key officials from among the NAMS staffers.

Secretary of NAMS Staff Union Dipak Mudhbari said NAMS was running without key officials for the last 192 days, but the government had shown no concern. “We will continue our protest until our demands are fulfilled,” he said.  He said that the Ministry of Health and Population had already recommended three names for NAMS vice-chancellor, but the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers had not approved any name.

“The Cabinet has not approved any name as political parties have failed to reach an agreement,” he said. The posts of vice-chancellor, rector, registrar, dean and director of NAMS have been vacant for the last 192 days.

“Due to delay in appointing key officials, teaching-learning activities have been affected. Similarly, bulk purchase of necessary medical equipment through tender and promotion of staffers have also been affected,” shared Mudhbari. Mudhbari said acting officials could give permission to spend only Rs 500,000. “The hospital used to buy medical, surgical and pathological equipment through tender. But now the hospital is buying equipment at retail price,” he added.

Every day more than 2,500 patients visit the hospital. Mudhbari also said that a month ago, Bir hospital couldn’t provide gastrology and cancerology services due to lack of doctors. One of the doctors retired and another quit. “The government had to hire a doctor from Norvic International Hospital to provide the services,” he shared.