Leadership removal disrupts operations at martyr Dasharath Chand health sciences university

Dhangadhi: With the publication of the Special Provisions Ordinance, 2083, issued by the government regarding the removal of public officials, the activities of the much-awaited Martyr Dasharath Chand Health Sciences University in the Far West have been disrupted.

According to point number 108 of the ordinance, the Vice Chancellor and Registrar of Martyr Dasharath Chand Health Sciences University, established as the first health sciences university in Nepal, have been removed from their posts. Along with this, the coordinator of the selection committee has also been automatically removed from their position.

With the removal of officials appointed through open competition during the then interim Genji government, it is expected that the upgrading and operation of educational programs at the teaching hospital will be affected. The university had been active in preparing necessary standards and infrastructure to launch various academic programs, including MBBS.

The university has already appointed 77 professors and associate professors on contract for the approval of academic programs. Similarly, the process of purchasing beds required to upgrade the teaching hospital to 300 beds was also underway.

It is reported that the monitoring team of the Medical Education Commission is preparing to inspect the university and teaching hospital in the coming month of Jestha for approval of academic programs.

According to the university, preparations were being made to operate academic programs including MBBS with 50 seats, BSc Nursing with 30 seats, BSc MLT with 20 seats, and Bachelor in Optometry with 20 seats, within around 100 days through policy and structural reforms.

However, following the appointment and subsequent removal of the Vice Chancellor after three advertisements, a leadership vacuum has been created in the university, increasing uncertainty in the overall academic and administrative processes.