Talks team invites Dr Govinda KC for talks

KATHMANDU: The government team formed to hold talks with Dr Govinda KC, orthopaedic surgeon of the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, has invited the doctor, who is on the 12th day of his eighth fast-unto-death demanding reforms in Nepal's medical sector.

The three-member team reached the TUTH, met Dr KC and invited him for the talks, according to Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Education and a talks team meber Lava Deo Awasthi.

A Cabinet meeting on Wednesday had formed the team.

The team includes secretaries from the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health.

Meanwhile, Dr KC’s health condition has been deteriorating.

Putting forth major four demands, Dr KC on July 10 had begun his hunger strike at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital.

KC has accused Karki of protecting various corrupt people in the medical education sector and argued that the CIAA chief breached his jurisdiction as he interfered in the Kathmandu University.

He has also demanded impeachment motion against CIAA Commissioner Raj Narayan Pathak, arguing that he was also involved in activities against dignity of his position, in promoting irregularities in the medical education sector.

Another demand of Dr KC includes improvement in a draft of the Medical Education Act with objectives to establish at least a medical college in all provinces, to make education at the government medical colleges completely free and to halt affiliations to new colleges within Kathmandu Valley for next 10 years.

Likewise, he demanded that the government withdraw a bill on establishing an academy in the Capital which is currently under discussion at the Parliament. Dr KC argued that the bill was against a report of the high-level committee formed to draft new health education policy in the country, headed by educationist Prof Kedar Bhakta Mathema.

Likewise, he demanded implementation of the past agreements signed with him.

Whereas Dr KC enjoys a good support from social media users and members of the public, private medical colleges have been protesting his strike claiming he was against promotion of private medical colleges in Nepal.