KATHMANDU, Nov 10: The medical education ordinance has come into effect after authentication by President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Friday after some delay on the first announced date.
Sushil Pyakurel, the political advisor of President, said, “There were no questions on not issuing the ordinance. It was delayed to take legal bits of advice from the legal authorities”, on being asked about the delay in issuing the ordinance.
The ordinance was promised to Dr Govinda KC by the government on Monday, October 23. It places among other things a 10-year moratorium on the establishment of new medical colleges within Kathmandu Valley.
The ordinance forwarded to the president by the cabinet for President’s authentication also had a provision to restrict universities from issuing affiliations to a maximum of five medical colleges each.
The provisions were included in the ordinance in line with the recommendations made by the Kedar Bhakta Mathema-led Task Force formed earlier to address Dr KC's demands. Tribhuvan University and Kathmandu University, for instance, will not be able to issue affiliations to any new medical colleges as each of them has already issued affiliations to five medical colleges.
Among other things, the agreement includes bringing medical education act through ordinance; reduce medical education fees at TU IOM and investigation into irregularities at various universities including the Tribhuvan University and Kathmandu University and action against those involved in irregularities.
Prez issues medical education ordinance