Dr KC ends fast after appointment of dean at IoM

LAXMI MAHARJAN

KATHMANDU: Dr Govinda KC, who was on fast-unto-death for the last six days demanding merit-based appointments at the Institute of Medicine, ended his hunger strike today following Dr Prakash Sayami’s appointment as IoM dean.

Tribhuvan University Executive Council today chose Dr Sayami as the new dean of IoM. With Dr KC ending his fast, services at TU Teaching Hospital and other health institutions resumed today. Doctors at TUTH had halted services since Tuesday and Nepal Medical Association yesterday had called for halting all — save emergency and indoor services — at all the health institutions across the country for two days in support of Dr KC.

Dr KC was offered juice by two of his patients — Indra Chepang and Prithvi Bishwokarma — at around 4:00pm today following Dr Sayami’s appointment as IoM dean. Dr KC, who was suffering from low blood pressure, muscle cramps and starvation, was immediately moved to Coronary Care Unit.

Making a short remark after breaking his fast, Dr KC thanked all for standing by him. “The appointment of Dr Sayami has set a trend of bringing in an apolitical person in IoM,” said Dr KC. “I hope other institutions too follow suit and keep them free from politics.”

Dr KC, an orthopedist at TUTH had earlier in July also had gone on hunger strike demanding apolitical appointment in the health sector and probe into irregularities in TUTH. Hundreds of doctors present in support of Dr KC said the fresh appointment was a victory of the truth.

Although the name of Dr Sayami was recommended by Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai yesterday, it was not officially announced due to a lack of consensus among stakeholders on his name. Dr Sayami is one of the senior-most professors at TUTH and is currently serving at Manmohan Cardiothoracic, Vascular and Transplant Centre. Dr Sayami is elder brother of Dr Arun Sayami who has already served as the dean of IoM in the past and has been accused of accepting Rs 12 million and leaking MBBS entrance exam question papers in 2010 March.

Lone crusader

KATHMANDU: Besides being an orthopedist at Tribhvuan University Teaching Hospital, Dr Govinda KC is also the one who not only accurately diagnosed what had been ailing the health sector but also launched a crusade to find a cure for it. And he triumphed. Dr KC, who has been battling against politicisation of the health sector for long, is well known for his impeccable apolitical career and selfless services he has offered. Born in 1957 in Ramechhap, Dr KC has been often talked about for his regular visits — twice a year to be precise — to different parts of countries, on his own expenses, wherever he saw the need. Earlier, he had gone on four-day fast-unto-death from July 5-8 to press for apolitical appointment in the Institute of Medicine.