The Tribhuvan University has decided to put the decision of granting affiliation to Kathmandu National Medical College “on hold”.

Issuing a statement on Saturday evening, the TU said the decision to grant affiliation to Kathmandu National Medical College “will not be implemented for now”.  

The TU move of granting affiliation to the controversial medical college based in Ghattekulo had drawn widespread criticism.

The TU also formed a committee to inspect the teaching hospital to see if it meets the operational criteria.

The Kathmandu National Hospital had been running illegally, without permission from the Health Ministry. It also fails to meet the basic infrastructure and human resource criteria to offer the MBBS course. During the Post’s recent visit to the medical college, which is set up in a residential apartment, it had found neither the doctors nor the patients at the facility.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, in his capacity as the TU chancellor, summoned Vice-chancellor Tirtha Raj Khaniya, and instructed him to scrap the decision to affiliate the medical college.

“The prime minister is clear that the issue of affiliation is handled by the Health Professional Education Commission as demanded by Dr [Govinda] KC,” said Govinda Pariyar, the PM’s press coordinator. “The PM has sought action against officials who are found guilty in the affiliation row.”

On Saturday, Dr KC had warned of  staging another hunger strike if the government did not take any tangible measures to scrap the affiliation granted to the Medical College.

Dr KC, who is recuperating after falling ill while visiting the flood-affected districts, warned of launching another fast from September 6 if the government turned a closed ear to his call. “I’m not going to stop my fight against corruption and malpractices in medical education,” said the surgeon. “The decision to affiliate National is illegal and it should be annulled.”

Dr KC said a decision on affiliation should be taken only by the Health Profession Education Commission, an overarching framework to regulate medical education envisioned by the Health Profession Education Bill.

The TU granted affiliation to the medical college on August 27, on the fourth day of Dr Govinda KC’s 11th fast-unto-death demanding that no new medical colleges should be allowed in Kathmandu Valley for the next 10 years.