Dozens of Officials Dismissed in the Health Sector: Who Are They?
April 20, Kathmandu – The government has removed dozens of officials from the Medical University, Health Science Institute, Health Insurance Board, and other regulatory bodies through an ordinance. Following the government’s recommendation, President Ram Chandra Paudel issued ordinances on Saturday amending several Nepal Acts related to universities, the Health Science Institute, and special provisions regarding the dismissal of public officials in 2083 BS. These ordinances resulted in the removal of vice-chancellors, registrars, chairpersons, and various officials appointed by the previous government.
With the enactment of these ordinances, all vice-chancellors and other officials of the Health Science Institutes were dismissed. Dr. Bhupendra Kumar Basnet, Vice-Chancellor; Dr. Lochan Karki, Rector; Dr. Gyanendra Shah, Registrar; and Dean Dr. Ashesh Dhungana of the National Academy of Medical Sciences were all removed from their posts. Similarly, Dr. Bikram Prasad Shrestha, Vice-Chancellor; Prof. Dr. Sanjiv Kumar Sharma, Rector; Prof. Dr. Surya Prasad Sangroula, Registrar; and Hospital Director Dr. Jagat Narayan Prasad of B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences were also dismissed.
Likewise, Dr. Buddh Prasad Paudel, Vice-Chancellor; Dr. Sirjana Shrestha, Rector; Dr. Paras Prasad Acharya, Registrar; Dean Dr. Nevisman Singh Pradhan; and Hospital Director Dr. Ravi Shakya of Patan Health Science Institute were removed from their positions. At Karnali Health Science Institute, Vice-Chancellor Dr. Pujan Kumar Rokaya, Rector Dr. Double Bahadur Dhami, and Registrar Dr. Laxmi Chandra Mahat were dismissed. Additionally, Dr. Bharat Bahadur Khatri, Vice-Chancellor of Pokhara Health Science Institute, was also removed.
Furthermore, registrars and other officials of Rapti Health Science Institute were dismissed. Executive Director Dr. Ravi Mall of Shahid Gangalal National Heart Center and both the Chairperson and Executive Director of B.P. Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital were removed from office. Also, four directors including Dr. Anjani Kumar Jha, Vice-Chair of the Medical Education Commission, were dismissed. The Nepal Medical Council’s Chair Dr. Choplal Bhusal along with members, as well as Chair Munakumari Thapa and Registrar Shukla Khanal with members of the Nepal Nursing Council, were also removed through the ordinance.
In addition, Dr. Narayan Vikram Thapa, Chairperson of the Nepal Health Research Council, and Member Secretary Dr. Pramod Joshi have been dismissed. Chair Shyam Mani Adhikari and Registrar Deepak Bhandari of the Nepal Ayurveda Medical Council, Chair Prajwal Jung Pandey and Registrar Sanjiv Kumar Pandey of the Nepal Pharmacy Council, and Chair Suvodha Sharma of the Nepal Health Professionals Council were also removed. Seven members of the Health Insurance Board were dismissed, including Chair Chandra Bahadur Thapa Chhetri, appointed under the Health Insurance Act, 2074 BS.
After Dr. Raghuraj Kafle’s resignation a few months ago, the position of Executive Director of the Board has remained vacant. The Ministry of Health had assigned Dr. Krishna Prasad Paudel to manage operations, but after his rejection, the board has been without leadership. The board includes both government-appointed experts and insured representatives, with a total of seven nominated positions affected by the ordinance. According to the ordinance, positions appointed under various acts are also vacated. These include six officials, including the Secretary and members appointed under the Ayurveda Medical Council Act, 2045 BS; nine appointed under the Nepal Health Research Council Act, 2047 BS; and five under the Animal Health and Livestock Service Professionals Council Act, 2079 BS. Consequently, dozens of officials appointed under various health, education, and research-related acts have been dismissed through this ordinance, as stated by the government’s decision.