Kathmandu, September 13

The government has appointed senior orthopaedic consultant Shree Krishna Giri as the vice-chairman of Medical Education Commission.

The council of ministers’ meeting held yesterday had decided to appoint Giri to the post. From among nine applicants, Giri was selected for the post. “I have yet to receive the appointment letter,” said Giri.

A three-member task force tasked with recommending a candidate for the post had suggested Giri, Surendra Sherchan and Sambhu Kumar Pahari from among the nine applicants. The task force was formed under the leadership of Chairman of the Public Service Commission Umesh Mainali.

Earlier on June 24, the committee had published a public notice calling for applications for the post. However, only six persons had applied. The government had sought fresh applications for the post of MEC vice-chair later, by cancelling all applications received earlier, saying the applications received were incomplete. The applicants failed to submit required testimonials and documents along with applications, which prompted the committee to issue re-application notice for the post of vice-chair, in July.

The National Medical Education Act, which was passed by the House of Representatives on January 25, despite criticism from the opposition Nepali Congress party and Dr Govinda KC,  has a provision to form the Medical Education Commission. Establishment of the Medical Education Commission was one of the key demands of Dr KC, for which he staged 16 fast-unto-death strikes since July 2012.

The commission is envisioned as an all powerful body to grant or revoke affiliation of medical colleges across the country and regulate medical education sector.