Expressing serious reservations over the Tribhuvan University (TU)’s “secret decision” to grant affiliation to a new medical college in Kathmandu, Dr Govinda KC has warned of stern protests along with hunger strike if the decision is not scrapped.

Dr KC, who has been staging a series of hunger strikes demanding reforms in country’s medical education and health care sector, issued fresh warning in a statement on Sunday after it was revealed that TU Executive Council (EC) on July 27 had granted affiliation to National Medical College based in Gattekhulo, Kathmandu. The medical college is an extension of Birjung-based National Medical College, owned by CPN-UML mayoral candidate for Birgunj Metropolitan City Basruddin Ansari.

“We have been shocked by the news that the TU Executive Council office bearers granted affiliation to a new medical college against the past agreements and commitments at a time when we were staging a hunger strike putting forth various demands including the rights—snatched away by TU from the Institute of Medicine (Iom)—back  to IoM. 

Condemning the decision as irresponsible and disgraceful, Dr KC noted that there was no legal way to grant affiliation to any new medical college as the court has not issued any interim order against the agreement with him.

The decision to grant affiliation, citing the court order, to serve their disgusting interests has proven that the TU EC office bearers are not working for the institution but medical mafia, the statement read.

Saying that it is the responsibility of all the aware citizens to stop such malpractices, Dr KC has drawn the attention of the concerned sides to annul the decision in line with the spirit of past agreements signed with him and the state law.

He has also called on the lawmakers to endorse the Health Profession Education (HPE) Bill, which has been tabled in the parliament, by incorporating some key recommendations made by a team of experts under Dr Kedar Bhakta Mathema. He also warned of resorting to another hunger strike if the bill was passed without making any changes.