Education Minister Giriraj Mani Pokharel has said the medical education bill registered in the parliament will not be taken back.
Addressing a press conference at the Education Ministry on Thursday, Adhikari has said that the ordinance brought by the preceding Sher Bahadur Deuba government cannot be implemented as it is.
Dr Govinda KC and Nepali Congress (NC) demand that the ordinance be implemented as it is while the current government has brought a replacement bill removing some of the key provisions of the ordinance.
Minister Pokharel also confirmed that a helicopter has already been sent to Jumla to bring fasting Dr KC to Kathmandu. “We can discuss the bill with Dr KC if he comes to Kathmandu. The bill that has already been registered in the parliament will not be taken back merely due to NC’s opposition,” he stated. He also claimed that the main points of the Mathema report have been included in the bill.
The government is preparing to table the bill in the House of Representatives (HoR) on Thursday itself. He added that the bill can be amended in the parliament itself if necessary.
Dr KC has started his 15
th fast-unto-death in Jumla demanding that the ordinance brought by the preceding Sher Bahadur 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.
