The Government of Nepal has appointed Prof. Dr. Bharat Bahadur Khatri as the new Vice-Chancellor of the Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences (PoAHS), concluding a four-month leadership vacancy.
The decision follows an extensive selection process by the Vice-Chancellor Recommendation Committee, chaired by Health and Population Minister Pradeep Paudel, which shortlisted 24 candidates across four health science academies. When the government called for applications from eligible candidates for the position of Vice Chancellor of Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences, 17 candidates had applied for the post. From this list, the search committee shortlisted six candidates and invited them for a presentation and interview on Shrawan 22, 2082, at the Ministry of Health and Population, Ramshahpath, Kathmandu.
After the interview, the committee selected three candidates,
- Prof. Dr. Bharat Bahadur Khatri
- Prof. Dr. Chandika Pandit, and
- Prof. Dr. Maya Lama
Among these three, Prime Minister and Chancellor, KP Sharma Oli, selected Prof. Dr. Bharat Bahadur Khatri, reportedly close to the CPN-UML, as a new Vice-Chancellor of Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences.
PoAHS, established in 2072 BS (2015 AD) as Gandaki Province’s only government-level postgraduate medical institution, has been under the acting leadership of Prof. Dr. Shree Krishna Shrestha since April 2025. Affiliated with the Western Regional Hospital, Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences is renowned for advanced healthcare services, including kidney transplantation and a Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, while training specialists in fields like Surgery, Internal Medicine, and Orthopedics.
Prof. Dr. Bharat Bahadur Khatri
Prof. Dr. Bharat Bahadur Khatri is a distinguished orthopedic surgeon and a prominent figure in Nepal's medical community. He served as the Director of the Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences (PAHS). With qualifications including an MBBS and MS in Orthopedics, Dr. Khatri is registered with the Nepal Medical Council (NMC No. 2031).
His expertise lies in orthopedic surgery, with a focus on procedures such as closed reduction and percutaneous pinning, as well as open reduction and internal fixation for fractures. Under his leadership, PoAHS has achieved significant milestones, including the first successful kidney transplantation in Pokhara in 2022 and the expansion of cancer treatment services through collaborations with institutions like BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital.
The medical community has expressed optimism, with expectations that Prof. Dr. Bharat Bahadur Khatri will build on PoAHS’s legacy of innovation and excellence, further solidifying its position as a cornerstone of Nepal’s healthcare system.
