KIST Medical College and Teaching Hospital is resuming its OPD services from today however, all academic activities will be halted for a month starting today.
“Examinations of MBBS/ BDS except for annual/ compartmental exams have also been cancelled. There will be no internship programmes as the institution did not receive any application in response to a notice published on July 5,” said the college administration in its notice, adding that students themselves will be responsible for any harm caused to them due to this development. Hospital Director Dr Rishikesh Narayan Shrestha said discussions were underway to address the students’ concerns and that some of their demands had already been addressed. But the students refused to withdraw their protest, he said. “We have, therefore, decided to close the hostel and academic activities for a month. We have been compelled to take this step as the protest has inconvenienced hundreds of people, especially those from outside the Valley, from receiving treatment,” he added.
The medical college yesterday issued a notice calling all students to evacuate the hostel within 24 hours, saying it would be closed for a month, and that anyone failing to do so would be forcibly evicted and punished as per college rules.
In response, the students today threatened to launch stringent protests if their demands were not addressed immediately.
KIST Medical College Students Society said the hospital used police to break their strike today.
Prasanga Neupane, one of the protesting students, said the college used force to cover up their weaknesses. Student Toshima Joshi said the college administration misbehaved with the students and demanded strict action against Dr Shrestha, Managing Director Ashish Thapa and Internal Auditor Keshav Acharya for ‘torturing’ them. Around 600 medical students are taking part in the protest.
The students have accused the TU-affiliated college of charging exorbitant fees from students against the fee ceiling fixed by the Ministry of Education and not paying a monthly stipend at par with Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital.
Their demands include establishing a playground and bigger library in the college among others.
