Dr Govinda KC has said he will not engage in dialogue with the government unless it takes back the medical education bill and sends a dialogue team with full mandate.
Issuing a press statement, Dr KC has accused the government of not taking initiative to fulfill the demands until now and completing formality by sending a dialogue team that includes only government employees. He has said he will not engage in the next round of dialogue until the government sends a team with full mandate. "There is no use of holding the next round of dialogue until the government creates the necessary environment to address our demands," the statement reads.
The government on Monday had formed its dialogue team under Education Secretary Khaga Raj Baral and including joint secretaries at the home and health ministries.
Senior advocate Surendra Bhandari, advocate Om Prakash Aryal and Dr Avishek Raj Singh held dialogue with the government on Monday and Tuesday on behalf of Dr KC, but both the meetings ended inconclusively after the government side repeated its stance that Dr KC should be brought to Kathmandu first and the medical education bill will not be withdrawn.
Dr KC is into the 19th day of his fast-unto-death at the Karnali Academy of Health Sciences in Jumla demanding that the ordinance brought by the Deuba government be implemented as it is.
Dr KC has accused the government of bringing the bill to replace the ordinance with an intention of providing affiliation for medical college to four hospitals owned by businessmen close to the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN).
The ordinance stops establishment of new medical colleges in Kathmandu Valley for 10 years as demanded by Dr KC, limits granting of affiliation by a university to a maximum of five medical colleges, and allows affiliation to only those that have operated a hospital, taking permission from the Health Ministry, for three years among others.
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