The Faculty Board of the Institute of Medicine (IoM), Tribhuvan
University, has decided not to grant affiliation to any medical colleges
until further notice. Recently,
Tribhuvan University had asked the Faculty Board for affiliation to
National Medical College, Ghattekulo, and Manmohan Memorial Institute of
Health Sciences.
A decision to
this effect was taken at a meeting of the Faculty Board held today
following Prime Minister Sushil Koirala’s directives. Prime Minister
Koirala on Tuesday instructed the Ministry of Education and Ministry of
Health and Population not to grant any affiliation to proposed medical
science colleges until a national policy comes into force on medical
science education.
As the chancellor of both Tribhuvan University and Kathmandu University, PM Koirala has also instructed the vice-chancellors of both the universities and concerned dean offices not to proceed with any affiliation process and keep on hold any process, if they have initiated, until the national policy is drafted in this connection.
Meanwhile, Dr
Govinda KC and other resident doctors staged a sit-in protest outside
the Office of the Dean of IoM from 11am to 1pm today to pressure the
faculty doctors not to grant approval for affiliation to any medical
colleges.
Dr KC, a senior orthopedic surgeon, on November 6 had announced that he would stage fast-unto-death again if the agreements reached earlier were not implemented.
In response the decision to halt affiliation for the time being, Dr KC said, “This is just one step. The government is not yet clear regarding other demands mentioned in the agreement. I will stick to my decision. If the government fails to implement the agreements at the earliest, I will go on hunger strike as I had announced earlier.”
