The ongoing protest in the Gwarko-based KIST Medical College has affected its academic programmes, including postponement of examinations.

The hospital has remained shut for the last 21 days due to the ongoing protest by staff members, demanding a hike in salary and allowances. The hospital’s emergency unit has also remained closed as a result. The situation spiralled out of control after staffers, except doctors and senior administrators, started boycotting their works.

On Wednesday, the KIST Medical College Student Society said that practical examinations of the final year MBBS and fourth year BDS had been postponed while the MBBS classes of second year called off.

The students’ society has urged the Institute of Medicine and the Nepal Medical Council to intervene for resolving the issues.

The agitating workers have put forth a 15-point demand, mainly relating to their salary and additional benefits. The staff members claim that the hospital administration has been turning a deaf to their demands when they protested peacefully.

The KIST College is affiliated to the Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University and runs undergraduate programmes, including MBBS.

Because of the ongoing protest, the IoM has cancelled the practical test of its fourth-year students. The IoM has said the exam has been put off until further notice.

“The issue is really serious. We have already asked the IoM Dean Office to resolve the problem,” said Dr Dharma Kanta Banskota, chairperson of the Nepal Medical Council.

Dr Banskota, however, expressed his reservation over IoM’s decision to put off the examination. He said such decisions will affect academic calendar of all medical schools. IoM Dean Dr Jagdish Agrawal was not immediately available for comment.