Kathmandu, August 11
Senior orthopaedic surgeon at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Dr Govinda KC, is likely to break his 19-day fast-unto-death on Friday as medical education stakeholders claim they have found a middle-path solution.
During a meeting called by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to fins a solution to the problem, the stakeholders have agreed to table the Medical Education Bill as demanded by Dr KC and endorse it from Parliament as soon as possible.
To settle the row about whether to give approval to new medical colleges which have already met criteria for establishment, the bone of contention between two sides, they have decided to form a Medical Education Commission and let it handle the issue after further studies.
Whereas Dr KC had demanded a complete ban on establishment of new medical colleges in Kathmandu Valley for next 10 years through the new law, the Women, Children, Senior Citizens and Social Welfare Committee in Parliament had amended the draft to propose that those meeting the criteria will be allowed to begin operation.
But, after the fresh agreement, the amendment will be dropped and the bill will be endorsed as demanded by Dr KC. Later, the Medical Education Commission will study their status and make an appropriate decision.
Further, recommendations from a commission to suggest ways of regulating the sector under the leadership of Dr Kedar Bhakta Mathema will be included in the bill. Dr KC had been demanding that also.
PM Deuba, Minister for Education Gopal Man Shrestha, Minister for Health Giriraj Mani Pokharel, senior Maoist leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha, former Health Minister and Nepali Congress leader Gagan Kumar Thapa, educationist Kedar Bhakta Mathema, Dr Bhagawan Koirala and some lawmakers including the Social Welfare Committee Chair Ranju Jha were present at the meeting.
The meeting has assigned Mathema and Koirala to convince Dr KC to break the fast.
It has been learnt that they will approach Dr KC immediately.
