House of Representatives Passes Bill to Establish Sahid Dashrath Chand Health Science University

The House of Representatives on Sunday unanimously endorsed the Sahid Dashrath Chand Health Science University Bill, 2081 BS, paving the way for the establishment of a new health-focused academic institution named after national martyr Dashrath Chand.

The bill was approved along with the report submitted by the Education, Health, and Information Technology Committee. Prior to the vote, Education, Science and Technology Minister Raghuji Pant addressed lawmakers’ queries, noting that appointing ministers from both the education and health portfolios as pro-chancellors would help shape the university into a national center of excellence in health sciences.

Lawmakers from across the political spectrum welcomed the move. MP Yogesh Kumar Bhattarai said the university’s establishment would be a form of justice for the people of the Sudurpaschim region, where the university is to be based. Similarly, Dr. Amresh Kumar Singh congratulated the people of the province and pointed to continued disparities in development across the country. He also noted that Madhesh Province still lacks a single government-run medical college.

MP Prem Suwal used the occasion to emphasize the importance of Khwopa University as a local model. Other lawmakers including Damodar Paudel Bairaghi, Kiran Kumar Shah, Dr. Chanda Karki, Debendra Paudel, Dilendra Prasad Badu, Bijula Rayamajhi, Ram Krishna Yadav, Ram Prakash Chaudhary, Dayal Bahadur Shahi, Prem Ale, and Biraj Bhakta Shrestha voiced support for the initiative and praised the government’s step toward improving access to medical education and health services.

Several lawmakers also recommended that future appointments to university leadership positions be made through competitive selection processes to ensure transparency and meritocracy.

The next session of the House of Representatives is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on May 19.