KATHMANDU, Jan 21: The meeting of the House of Representatives has been adjourned following the protest from the Nepali Congress.

The government has been preparing to table the New Medical Education Bill for the endorsement at the meeting today. But the NC lawmakers strongly criticized the government’s preparation and demanded the Bill should include all the agreements reached with Dr Govinda KC.

Arthopaedic surgeon Dr KC has been staging hunger strike demanding reforms in medical sector for the past two weeks. He began his 16th hunger strike on January 9 after the Education and Health Committee of the legislature parliament endorsed the report on Medical Education Bill against the agreement forged between Dr KC and the government on July 26 last year.

NC Parliamentary Party deputy leader Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar, speaking at the parliament, demanded a correction in the Bill insisting that the Bill should not be tabled with accommodating all the demands of Dr KC.

Following the obstruction, the Speaker adjourned the House of Representatives meeting.

Earlier this morning, the opposition party had obstructed the meeting of the National Assembly as well, expressing concern over the government apathy to operate the hospitals established in commemoration of party prominent leaders the late Girija Prasad Koirala and Sushil Koirala.

Govt preparing to pass New Medical Education Bill today

Govt has addressed almost all the demands of Dr KC: State Minister Yadav

KATHMANDU, Jan 21: The government is preparing to endorse the New Medical Education Bill at the parliament on Monday amid strong opposition from Nepali Congress party and medical associations.

Nepal Communist Party leader Yogesh Bhattarai told Reporters Club Nepal that the Bill will be tabled at the parliament meeting today.

However the government has been neglecting Dr KC’s demands insisting that the new Bill has addressed all the demands put by agitating Dr KC.

“The bill will be presented at the meeting accommodating all the demands of Dr KC,” said Bhattarai.

Arthopaedic surgeon Dr Govinda KC has been staging hunger strike demanding reforms in medical sector for the past two weeks. He began his 16^th hunger strike on January 9 after the Education and Health Committee of the legislature parliament endorsed the report on Medical Education Bill against the agreement forged between Dr KC and the government on July 26 last year.

The government and Dr KC reached had reached a deal to bring Medical Education Act, open government medical colleges in all seven provinces and make the health education and services easily accessible for ordinary people.

But, the July 9 report paved way for the B & C Medical College and Manmohan Medical College to operate and made a provision that would grant affiliation to medical colleges outside the valley which is against the agreement that bars Tribhuvan and Kathmandu University from granting affiliation to more than five medical colleges. It also ignores the Mathema report, mentioning deadline to phase out CTEVT intermediate levels of medical education, and opening a new medical university.

The main opposition party Nepal congress has expressed serious concerns over the government’s indifference to Dr KC’s demands and warned the government not to underestimate the protest. The opposition party has accused NCP Chair K P Sharma Oli led government of bring the new Bill disregarding the demands of Dr KC, and has warned to obstruct the government’s plan.

Meanwhile, National Resident Doctors Association (NRDA) and Nepal Medical Association (NMA) have warned strong protest to pressure the government to implement the agreement signed with Dr KC. The NRDA and NMA has asserted that the new Bill has been introduced against the past agreements.

National Resident Doctors Association (NRDA) and the Nepal Medical Association (NMA) have warned of strong protests to pressure the government to fulfill Dr Govinda KC’s demands.

House of Representatives meeting adjourned after NC protest

Govt has addressed almost all the demands of Dr KC: State Minister Yadav

KATHMANDU, Oct 18: Professor Dr Govinda KC broke the fast-unto-death after signing the 10-point agreement with the government Wednesday evening.

Dr KC broke the 14-day strike after the government agreed on issuing the medical education act through the ordinance.

One of the points in the agreement mentioned that the forthcoming meeting of the Council of Ministers on 23 October would issue the medical education act through the ordinance.

The talks were held between the government and the representatives of agitating Dr KC. It was held among Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, Education Minister, former Health Minister Gagan Kumar Thapa, Prof Kedar Bhakta Mathema and Dr Avishekh Raj Singh at the official residence of the Prime Minister, Baluwatar, on Wednesday after former Health Minister Thapa presented a proposal of bringing the Medical Act through ordinance.

A 10-year old girl Rojina Tamang fed water to Dr KC in the presence of Health Minister Deepak Bohara, Health Secretary Dr Kiran Regmi, Secretary at Council of Ministers Mahindra Prasad Upadhyay, Chief of the Department of Medical Service Dr Bholaram Shrestha, and senior advocate Om Prakash Sharma, among others.

Talking to PM Deuba over phone before signing the agreement paper, Dr KC warned of staging a hunger strike once again if the agreement was not implemented within October 24.

In response, PM Deuba assured Dr KC that the agreement would be implemented this time. RSS

KATHMANDU, Oct 12: Agitating Dr Govinda KC has urged Speaker Onsari Gharti to play active role to pass the Bill on Medical Education from the House.

At a news conference organized Thursday, Prof Dr KC urged to pass the bill during the remaining period of the House in a correct form.

“Some political parties and lawmakers are active to trample the citizens’ right to health and students’ right to get medical education in cheaper cost. So, they are working to foil the bill,” Dr KC said.

Dr KC is on a hunger strike for eight days demanding reforms in medical education.

This is the 13th hunger strike staged by Prof Dr KC. RSS