Teaching and learning activities at the Karnali Academy of Health Sciences in Jumla have been affected following a protest by doctors. The disruption comes after doctors have been staging protests for the past three days, putting forward various demands. Although examinations and practical sessions are ongoing, regular classes have been halted for the past week.
The Dean’s office was locked on April 13, further impacting students who had come from different parts of the country, as well as from India, to study at the academy. A student studying at the academy, Bijay Rawal, stated, “Classes have not been conducted for a week. We come to college daily only to return without attending lectures.” Students have urged a swift resolution to the dispute and the resumption of regular academic activities.
Most of the academy’s officials are currently outside the district, particularly in Kathmandu, for official purposes, while the doctors’ protest continues.
Permanent doctors working at the academy resorted to locking the Dean’s office after their demands were not addressed. According to protesting doctor Dr. Rabin Khapung, repeated attempts were made to resolve the issue through dialogue and coordination, but the management has remained unresponsive. He said, “We had raised our demands peacefully. However, as there was no hearing, we were compelled to impose the lock.”
He further stated that faculty members are unable to work effectively due to unnecessary administrative burdens and an uncomfortable working environment. “We believe it is the immediate responsibility of the hospital administration to address this situation,” he added.
The doctors’ demands include: appointing qualified faculty members to academic positions; increasing salaries in consideration of inflation, as there has been no increment for the past 10 years; implementing performance-based contracts; introducing ‘travel leave’ considering the difficulty of commuting to and from Jumla and frequent flight delays or cancellations; ensuring effective mechanisms to raise and resolve faculty-related issues; and forming and activating a Faculty Development Committee.
In a protest statement issued by the doctors, it is mentioned: “We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused to students and service recipients due to this protest. However, raising our voices for our fundamental rights and professional dignity has become a necessity.”
“We are still willing to seek a solution through dialogue and agreement and urge the concerned authorities to take prompt action.”
Vice-Chancellor Dr. Pujan Rokaya stated that it is difficult to immediately address the doctors’ demands. He said, “Although there is an option of promotion through the Public Service Commission, the environment for its implementation has not yet been created. There are legal constraints in assigning additional responsibilities as demanded by the doctors. We are working towards finding an appropriate solution.”