Kathmandu, November 10

President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Friday enacted the Medical Education Ordinance as sent by the Cabinet for approval.

The government was under pressure of medical education reform activist Dr Govinda KC to enact the law.

Besides other significant provisions, the law bars establishment of new medical college in the Kathmandu Valley for next 10 years as demanded by Dr KC.

The veteran orthopaedic surgeon had issued a seven-day warning to the President to implement the law at the earlier. He had threatened to stage another round of fast-unto-death if his demand was not heeded.

Dr KC has already staged 13 rounds of indefinite hunger strike demanding various reforms in Nepal’s medical education sector.

According to the constitution, the President can enact an ordinance to implement new laws in the absence of Parliament; but that has to be endorsed by the House within 60 days. Otherwise, the law automatically gets null and void.