The subcommittee formed by the Education and Health Committee of Parliament has recommended the government to take action against the representatives of Rapti Academy of Health Sciences (RAHS) in Dang for not working towards solving the issues and problems faced by the academy’s employees.

A month ago, more than 62 employees of the RAHS had staged protests against the mismanagement of the academy, demanding the authorities to provide them professional security, proper salary and allowances. The subcommittee was then formed to inspect the RAHS and resolve the problems.

In addition to the dissatisfaction voiced by the employees, the subcommittee formed in coordination with former Health Minister Khagaraj Adhikari also reported that a majority of the health services at the RAHS has closed down. According to the committee, the RAHS management

has not maintained the basic sanitation and safety in the hospital, even failing to provide effective maternity services to pregnant women.

Rapti Sub Regional Hospital, the biggest hospital in Rapti zone, was converted into Rapti Academy of Health Sciences in 2018. According to the report prepared by the subcommittee, the academy lacks various aspects of management and medical assistance largely because of the unilateral decisions taken by the representatives including Vice-chancellor Dr Sangita Bhandari.

The subcommittee has advised the RAHS to lower the treatment fees, resume its health services, adjust the salary scale of the employees as per the designation assigned to them, and to address the demands of the agitating employees.  

The employees had expressed their grievances after the management decided to hire new employees by snubbing the older ones after the sub regional hospital was converted into an academy.

“Though the subcommittee has directed us to solve the problems faced by employees, we can do so only after the Ministry of Health and Population asks us to,” said Dr Ram Prasad Pyakurel, registrar of the RAHS. “The ministry has not notified us about what’s to be done next.”