“There was no consensus over the appointment of the hospital´s executive director,” said a taskforce member and chairman of CPN-UML, Chitwan, Krishna Khanal. The taskforce, formed on May 5, was assigned to resolve the dispute within a week. Since no progress was made in that period, the taskforce´s term was extended until Sunday.[break]
The taskforce had two representatives from the Health Ministry, local leaders of three big parties, and three doctors of the hospital as members. Sources claimed that the taskforce could not come up with a solution as representatives from the three large parties were adamant in their stances.
Nepali Congress representative maintained that the appointment should be upheld. But UCPN (Maoist) and CPN-UML representatives were in favor of forming a new executive board for fresh appointment. But the two were at odds as well, as UML too wanted its candidate as executive director, according to a member of the taskforce.
The three-year term of former executive director Dr Bhakta Man Shrestha expired in September last year. The post remained vacant for months owing to maneuverings over a new appointment until Dr Laxmi Narayan Singh was appointed to the post in February this year.
Dr Shrestha, who is seeking a reinstatement, opposed Dr Singh´s appointment terming it procedurally flawed. Maoist workers who support Dr Shrestha padlocked the hospital administration for over three months, severely affecting service delivery. It took a Supreme Court order for the services resume fully.
Though the hospital administration was unlocked following the Court order, workers affiliated to Maoist trade union have padlocked executive director´s office and have vowed to prevent Dr Singh from assuming the charge.
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