Youth and student wings of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) have urged the government either to nationalise all the medical colleges run by the private sector or transform them into non-profit trusts.

In a joint statement on Sunday, the youth and students wings—which are preparing for a merger, have come up with the suggestion in order to resolve the ongoing protests against the medical education bill.

“As per the constitutional provisions of socialism-oriented system and the fundamental rights of health and education guaranteed by the constitution, we demand the government to nationalise medical colleges or transform them into non-profit trusts,” the erstwhile Maoist Centre’s youth wing Young Communist League and students wing All Nepal National Independent Students Union-Revolutionary (ANNISU-R) and UML’s youth wing Youth Association Nepal and students wing All Nepal National Free Students Union said in the statement.

The statement of the sister wings of the ruling NCP came a day after the Tarun Dal—youth wing of the opposition NC—staged a protest against the medical education bill registered in Parliament.

They have also demanded the government begin the process for running at least one well-equipped medical college in each of the seven provinces and distribution of scholarships to the needy and target groups in a transparent manner.

“Strikes at the essential service sector that affects the general public must be restricted and the government should take immediate action against those not providing essential services,” the statement reads.

Urging the government to establish a High-level Medical Education Commission to ensure a lasting solution

to the problems facing medical education, they said the sovereign parliament should be the common

place for discussion and find a solution to all major problems.

“Since the demands raised by Dr Govinda KC could be addressed by the medical education commission, hunger strike should be discontinued through dialogue and political intervention and indecent activities in the struggle of Dr KC should end,” said Ranjit Tamang, chairman of ANNISU-R.

The NCP student and youth wings have also demanded a probe into the institutes running bridge courses for entrance examination to medical education. Claiming that the institutes have been sending students abroad, the youth wings have called on the government to take necessary action against such institutes.