Kathmandu, December 24

The sub-panel of Education and Health Committee is yet to finalize the draft of the National Health Education Bill.

The sub-panel meeting today couldn’t come with its final report on the bill to submit to the full panel as some issues remain unresolved. The sub-panel will have to consult Dr Govinda KC, a health sector reformist. A member of the sub-panel Gagan Kumar Thapa told THT that there were certain issues where the sub-panel needed to talk to Dr Govinda KC, with whom the government had signed a nine-point deal to reform the country’s health sector.

According to Thapa, a two-member team, he and another sub-committee member Yogesh Bhattarai will be talking with Dr KC regarding the bill on points where his demands contradict other issues.

Thapa said, mainly, there were three issues: Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training, scholarship to MBA and MBBS doctors and their compulsory work to serve the nation, and affiliation for new medical colleges outside Kathmandu valley. “Without consulting Dr KC we can’t take a decision.”

Thapa added that the sub-panel will conclude its work tomorrow and hand over it to the full panel. The panel has already decided to present the bill proposal in its first House of Representatives meeting on December 26.