The government on Thursday has formed a high-level committee to study the feasibility of granting autonomy to the Institute of Medicine (IoM) and the Institute of Engineering (IoE).

The government decision comes amid pressure from Dr Govinda KC, who is on a fast-unto-death since last Saturday.

The six member committee headed by Dr Ramesh Kanta Adhikari, ex-dean of IoM is entrusted with submitting a comprehensive feasibility report within 45 days. The committee comprises high level officials of the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) and the Ministry of Education (MoE).

At a meeting held at the Prime Minister´s Office in Singha Darbar has also decided not to grant any affiliation to new medical colleges under the existing circumstances. “New affiliations will be awarded only after extensive discussions between the concerned parties,” said Minister for Education Madhav Poudel.

Poudel, who is also the government´s spokesperson, expressed hope that Dr KC would call off his ongoing hunger strike. “We hope that Dr KC would not go against an individual, minister Poudel said referring to Dr Sashi Sharma. Dr KC has also demanded resignation of Sharma. Poudel said it is up to the Tribhuvan University to decide Sharma´s fate.

Chairman of the interim government Khila Raj Regmi, education minister Poudel, education secretary, chief secratary, TU office bearers and concerned professors of IoM participated in the meeting called by the PMO office.

Meanwhile, doctors at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), who are involved in the treatment of Dr Govinda KC, said his health condition has been deteriorating continuously. Student pursuing MBBS and higher degrees like MD, MS under IoM and National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS) had also submitted a memorandum to Chairman Regmi informing the latter about Dr KC´s deteriorating health condition on Thursday afternoon.

Over 300 students and lecturers had reached the Prime Minister´s Office at Baluwatar to hand over the memorandum. Resident and intern doctors have also announced to shun emergency and indoor services from Thursday, saying they cannot continue their duties at a time when their respected is struggling between life and death. Earlier, they had halted services at the Out-patient Department (OPD) of the hospital. Moreover, resident doctors also have padlocked the offices of dean, assistant dean and campus chief of TUTH on Thursday.

Faculty doctors have been facing difficulty providing care to ailing patients at the hospital. Dr KC, a senior professor at Institute of Medicine (IoM), Maharajgung Campus started hunger strike against the appointment of new dean of IoM and has refused to break his huger strike until his demands are met. His other demands include cancellation of affiliation to new medical colleges, formation of a probe committee to investigate irregularities by TU office bearers and an end to the trend of appointing office bearers on the basis of political affiliation.

Settle the row though dialogues: NHRC

The National Human Right Commission (NHRC) has asked the government and authorities concerned to take necessary steps to save Dr Govinda KC´s life. NHRC officials had inspected Dr KC´s health condition on Thursday. The national human rights body has also urged the government to initiate dialogues to settle the IoM dispute.

“Dr KC´s health has been worsening, while the ongoing strike of doctors has affected service delivery at the hospital," reads the statement issued by commission. The commission has also asked the hospital authorities to resume its services.

I resigned under pressure: Former dean Sayami

Professor Prakash Sayami, former dean of Institute of Medicine (IoM), Maharajgung Campus on Thursday said that he was compelled to resign as he was under pressure to grant affiliations to proposed new medical colleges.

Breaking a month-long silence, Dr Sayami said that he resigned as he could not work under pressure and against his own will and the interests of the institution. Dr Sayami had cited health reasons for his resignation.

Issuing a press statement on Thursday, Professor Sayami said he was always in favor of autonomy to IoM. “I am always in favor for autonomy to IoM and development of the institution as a medical university,” read the press statement.

Dr Sayami´s clarification comes amidst deteriorating health condition of Professor Govinda KC. Dr KC is on a huger strike demanding Dr Sayami´s reinstatement. Dr KC has been claiming that corrupt TU officials forced him to resign. “They had humiliated and compelled him to resign. He should be reinstated,” Dr KC had told to reporters before starting his hunger strike on Saturday.

Sayami had tendered his resignation after TU formed a separate committee to grant affiliations to new medical colleges. TU and IoM have serious differences over whether or not to grant affiliations to new medical colleges.

source: republica,16 jan 2014