Kathmandu. Health sector reform activist Dr. Dr Govinda KC has made a 9-point suggestion to the government led by Prime Minister Sushila Karki for reforms in health and medical education, good governance and social justice.

He has been agitating for reforms in health and medical education sector for more than two decades. KC said that the reform process has been hampered time and again due to the lack of implementation of agreements signed with the previous governments. According to him, due to political interests, partisan interference and impunity, public institutions are being weakened and citizens are deprived of the basic services of the state.

Dr. KC also urged the incumbent civilian government to take steps seriously, saying that an opportunity has come to carry out concrete works and lay the foundation for long-term reforms.

Suggestion

1. Immediately correct the wrong decisions in the Medical Education Commission, including the change in the seat limit due to the illegal interference of the former Prime Minister and Education Minister. To restore the autonomy of the commission by correcting other decisions taken by the commission by breaching the Medical Education Act due to political interference.

2. To select qualified officials in Geta Medical University without allowing the interest of any party or interest group to dominate and to expand the hospital’s services and to carry out the MBBS program.

3. To issue the Higher Education Bill in the form of an ordinance with criteria for the officials to be appointed in universities and academies.

4. Make arrangement for all institutions to provide subsistence allowance to the master’s level of medical education without any conditions at par with the eighth level of the Government of Nepal.

5. The perpetrators of Nirmala Kurmi’s disappearance will be brought to justice after conducting an impartial investigation into the relentless exoneration of the perpetrators due to their political reach. Similarly, the process of filing cases against medical college businessmen, doctors and outgoing lawmakers of big parties involved in the fake certificate scandal will be forwarded.

6. Conclude the process of transitional justice in an impartial manner so that the victims of the armed conflict are brought to justice, and the perpetrators of war crimes and heinous crimes against humanity are brought to justice. To remove the cadres recruited for partisan impunity in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and to appoint competent officials by taking the victims into confidence.

7. Advance the Integrated Health Education Academy Bill

8. Increase the quota for human resources in government hospitals and health service institutions as per the current need and create employment opportunities for health workers including doctors.

9. Immediately take action against the officials including the Oli government who ordered the shooting killings during the youth movement, and the people and parties involved in arson of government and private structures and heritages.