Fate of Geta Medical University: Legal Hurdles and Funding Challenges Persist

Dhangadhi. It has been two years since the Government of Nepal decided to establish the country's first medical university in Kailali. On 29 Magh 2080, the Council of Ministers decided to establish and operate the Shaheed Dashrath Chand National Health Science University in Geta, Kailali.

It has been a long time since 42 grand buildings were erected in Geta, Kailali. The Government of Nepal has already invested over 6 billion in this structure, which spans 51 hectares.

The Geta Medical University, which has become a major election agenda, has neither received students nor provided treatment to patients so far.

Following the recent House of Representatives elections, a government has been formed under the leadership of senior leader Balendra (Balen) Shah of the Rastriya Swatantra Party.

With the Rastriya Swatantra Party winning 10 out of 16 constituencies in Sudurpashchim, the discussion about Geta has intensified again. There is growing debate over whether the current government will take an interest in operating the medical university, which has remained limited to announcements.

Ananda Chand, a member of parliament elected from Kailali Constituency Number 5, stated that he has put forward a concrete plan and budget framework to complete the Geta Medical University.

According to him, the main challenge now is to bring the structure into operation and resolve the legal bottlenecks.

According to MP Chand, while many understand Geta as a medical college, it is actually the Shaheed Dashrath Chand Health Science University.

'This is not just a hospital, but an academic institution and a university,' said Chand. 'There are some mandatory prerequisites to operate it, which we must fulfill.'

According to him, the first requirement for operating the university is a 300-bed hospital. Chand informed that the institution must conduct a 'self-appraisal' according to the standards of the Medical Education Commission. He mentioned that a team has already worked on this process.

A strategy has been formed to coordinate with other large hospitals in the province to start services until the university's own hospital is fully ready.

'The provincial government has already given approval to affiliate Seti Provincial Hospital, Mahakali Hospital, and Tikapur Hospital with this university,' said Chand. 'This is a positive and welcome step for the operation of this university.'

It is believed that this will pave the legal and practical path to start academic programs in Geta and expand hospital services.

The main obstacle for Geta is not just the budget. Another problem is the legal basis. The Shaheed Dashrath Chand National Health Science University Bill has been stuck in the Education, Health and Information Technology Committee of the House of Representatives for the past two years. Until this bill, which has already been passed by the National Assembly, is passed by the House of Representatives, the university cannot function legally.

MP Chand stated that a budget has been requested to start the academic session in Geta immediately. He said there is a plan to teach MBBS or medical education to 50 students in the initial phase.

There is a provision that 75 percent of the source must be ensured at the rate of 4.5 million rupees per student set by the government to teach 50 students.

'We are requesting a budget from the Ministry of Finance to ensure the source for about 37-38 students,' he said.

In addition, it appears that an additional 2.58 billion rupees is required to operate the 300-bed hospital at full capacity and to purchase necessary medical equipment. Chand informed that continuous discussions are being held with Prime Minister Balen Shah and Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle to manage this budget.

'There is not a single institution in Sudurpashchim to study medical education. We are emphasizing the assurance of sources and budget allocation of 2.58 billion to end this situation,' he said.

The main obstacle for Geta is not just the budget. Another problem is the legal basis. The Shaheed Dashrath Chand National Health Science University Bill has been stuck in the Education, Health and Information Technology Committee of the House of Representatives for the past two years. Until this bill, which has already been passed by the National Assembly, is passed by the House of Representatives, the university cannot function legally.

'Our first priority is to get this bill passed by the committee immediately and then by the House of Representatives. Without a legal basis, the structure alone will not achieve anything,' he said.

He claimed that the new government would prioritize this bill and move it forward.

KP Khanal, MP from Kailali Constituency Number 2, also said that he is engaged in a campaign to ensure the budget for Geta, stating that 'Sudur is no longer far.' According to the MPs of this region, Finance Minister Wagle has given positive signals to provide a budget for the upcoming academic session and to assist in the operation of the hospital.

Khanal said that the government led by Balen would work to prevent the structures, on which 6 billion has already been spent, from rusting and to provide quality health services and medical education to the people of Sudurpashchim in their own region.