Kathmandu, October 14

A mass rally was taken out from Maitighar Mandala today in support of Dr Govinda KC, who has been on a fast-unto-death for over a week demanding reforms in the medical education sector.

Participants of the rally chanted slogans against the medical mafia and corrupt officials.

According to the Jagannath Lamichhane, a representative of the solidarity campaign, said, “Dr KC has urged the public to launch a protest for upholding the dignity of the judiciary, and taking action against corrupt politicians and government officials. So we took out the rally to compel the government  to take the right decision.”

Dr KC  has been staging hunger strike on the premises of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Maharajgunj to pile pressure on the government to end anomalies in the country’s medical sector.

Dr KC had ended his last hunger strike after 23 days. He began his first hunger strike demanding reforms in medical education in July 2012.

The demands that he started his 13th fast-unto-death with are the same four-point demands previously raised: that the government enact the Medical Education Act in the spirit of the Mathema-led panel’s recommendations; endorse the Health Profession Education Bill from Parliament; impose a 10-year suspension on medical colleges in Kathmandu Valley; and, strictly enforce the government-set fee structure for MBBS course.