Controversial Doctor Shortlisted for Civil Hospital Executive Director Amidst Past Negligence Allegations

Kathmandu. Dr. Jitendra Pariyar, who has faced questions over professional conduct and medical practice and even undergone action, has been shortlisted for the executive director of the Civil Hospital in New Baneshwor. The selection of Dr. Pariyar, a candidate previously suspended, has raised questions about the decision-making and criteria of the government selection committee.

The Chairman of the Civil Hospital Management Committee is the Chief Secretary of the Government of Nepal. Currently, Govinda Bahadur Karki is the Chief Secretary. The committee includes secretaries from the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, and Ministry of Health and Population.

Stakeholders say that the selection of an individual with past serious negligence allegations raises ethical questions about the committee's impartiality. Following Dr. Pariyar's inclusion in the shortlist, a complaint has also been filed against him with the Nepal Medical Council.

Dr. Dipendra Pandey, Acting Registrar of the Council, stated that information has been requested through an anonymous complaint regarding Dr. Pariyar. Pandey said, 'We have received an anonymous request for information about him. We have been asked about what actions were taken in the past regarding Dr. Pariyar's case. We have sent this matter to the Council's Professional Conduct Committee, and further process will proceed after that.'

What was the past incident?

On July 26, 2011 (Bikram Sambat), 32-year-old Chhamkumari Bohara from Rupandehi was admitted to the BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital in Chitwan for thyroid cancer treatment. However, due to a mix-up with another patient's name, her uterus was surgically removed. The incident became a major controversy after Chhamkumari's uterus was removed, mistaking her for Kesh Maya Gurung, who was admitted for uterine treatment.

Following the surgery where her uterus was removed instead of her neck, the hospital's management committee suspended 13 individuals, including doctors, on September 9, 2011 (Bikram Sambat). At that time, the surgery was performed by a team including gynecologist Dr. Pariyar.

Based on the report of the internal investigation committee, they were suspended and asked for explanations. When the teams from the Medical Council, Nursing Council, and Ministry of Health investigated the incident, the Nepal Medical Council also suspended Dr. Pariyar's license.

Not only this, but in 2022 (Bikram Sambat 2079), a complaint was filed with the Ministry of Health and Population against Dr. Pariyar for prescribing a banned drug to a woman diagnosed with cancer.

Lobbying from the Prime Minister's Office

Sources indicate that intense lobbying, involving abuse of power from the Prime Minister's Office, is underway to entrust the leadership of the hospital to an individual with a background of negligence that endangered patients' lives. Singh Durbar sources claim that Pradip Pariyar, the private secretary of Prime Minister Balen Shah, has also strongly advocated for Dr. Jitendra to be appointed as the executive director.

In accordance with Rule 3 of the Civil Servant Hospital Executive Director Selection, Duties, Authority, Service and Facilities Regulations 2077, the committee formed to recommend candidates held a meeting on July 15 (Bikram Sambat Asar 31) and published a shortlist of 6 individuals. The shortlist includes Prof. Dr. Pariyar, Dr. Dharmaraj Gosain, Prof. Dr. Mohan Chandra Regmi, Dr. Ajay Kumar Jha, Dr. Suresh Shrestha, and Prof. Dr. Anuj Jung Rayamajhi.

The recommendation committee, formed under the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, published the list after evaluating the received applications. The shortlisted candidates' professional work plan presentations and interviews have been scheduled for 10 AM today. The notice states that candidates must be present 30 minutes before the scheduled time with original and duplicate copies of their educational certificates, along with hard and soft copies of their professional work plans.

Dr. Pariyar is a professor of gynecology and oncology at the National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS) and currently holds the responsibility of Head of the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at the Civil Hospital itself.

Stakeholders say that appointing a controversial individual with a history of past actions to a position of public interest and sensitivity in the health sector would be a major blow to the hospital's reputation. One doctor said, 'Such a controversial move will not only cause the general public to lose faith in government health institutions but also increase the risk of extreme mismanagement and impunity within the hospital.'

Meanwhile, Dr. Badri Rizal, President of the Nepal Medical Association, believes that nepotism and favoritism should not be the basis for leadership appointments in any organization. He says, 'Individuals capable of leading the organization and working for its benefit, with a clean image, should be given responsibility. Nepotism and favoritism should not dominate leadership selection.'