Dharan: Students of BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences boycotted the entrance examination of the bridge course of Doctor of Medicine/Master of Science and padlocked the exam centre for an indefinite period today.

Protest Struggle Committee Chairperson Dr Surendra Acharya said as per the agreement reached with BPKIHS earlier, the institute should open the registration process and conduct classes on Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Forensic, Medicine, Pharmacology, General pathology and Microbiology in MD/MS bridge course.

“The institute has prepared to conduct the entrance examinations of Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Forensic and Medicine without conducting classes on the subjects, so we have been compelled to boycott the examinations and stage protest,” Acharya added.

Students chanted slogans against the institute and demanded the institute ensures that classes would be held on the subjects soon. Some doctors of the institute have also expressed their solidarity with the agitating students.

Dental Surgeon, Dr Hemanta Joshi said Nepal Medical Council has also approved the seven subjects but the institute did not include three subjects, so the doctors have supported students’ demand. Agitating students warned they will shut the exam department altogether if the institute does not conduct classes on all the seven subjects.

Meanwhile, Institute’s Rector Prof Dr Bikram Prasad Shrestha said today’s entrance exam could not be conducted due to the protest.

Clarifying the institute’s stand, he said due to the lack of manpower and the increment of the number of students in other subjects, the institute had opened the registration of four subjects only. He said he would convey the students’ demand to the senate of the institute.

source: The Himalayan Times,5 Dec 2012