The Federal House of Representatives on Friday endorsed the National Medical Education Bill amidst protest from the main opposition Nepali Congress (NC). 

Education Minister Giriraj Mani Pokharel presented the National Medical Education Bill at the parliament despite stiff resistance from the Nepali Congress lawmakers. The bill was endorsed with a support of majority lawmakers.

After the endorsement of the bill, the opposition lawmakers obstructed the House chanting slogans against the government.

Now, the bill has to be endorsed by the National Assembly. The NA's meeting has been scheduled for Monday after the obstruction by Nepali Congress.

Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara moved ahead with the bill while the opposition lawmakers were shouting slogans against the speaker, urging him to maintain the dignity of the parliament.

NC lawmakers had been protesting the bill, saying that it didn't incorporate the demands of agitating Dr Govinda KC and recommendations of Mathema committee report.  Dr KC is on 17^th day of his 16^th hunger strike demanding reforms in the country’s medical education and health care system.

Talking to reporters after the House meeting, Nepal Communist Party lawmaker Yogesh Bhattarai said the bill has addressed the demands of Dr Govinda KC. “He [Dr KC] doesn’t need to stage such difficult hunger strike anymore. This is good news for the students aspiring to study medicine in the country,” he said.

Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has criticized the government move as “authoritarian” and warned of launching strikes in the parliament and streets.

Meanwhile, the House meeting has been deferred for January 31.

Read: Discord over affiliation leaves medical bill in limbo