KATHMANDU: Senior orthopaedic surgeon at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Dr Govinda KC, who launched protests time and again in the past demanding reforms in the medical sector, on Saturday gave the government a 24-hour ultimatum to appoint the Dean of the Tribhuvan University Institute of Medicine (TU IoM).

He said the appointment should be made on the basis of seniority, instead of political power sharing.

This is the second time that Dr KC gave the government an ultimatum to appoint the top official. He had issued the similar ultimatum on Wednesday.

He also warned to start his 10th fast-onto-death if his demand is not fulfilled.

He also warned to start his 10th fast-onto-death if his demand was not fulfilled till 2 pm on Sunday.

Dr KC has also demanded that the fees for MBBS and BDS programmes should be retained as last year.

Last year, the total fee for MBBS within Kathmandu valley was set at Rs 3.5 million per student and Rs 3.85 million outside the Valley. Likewise, Rs 2 million was set for BDS per student.

The position of Dean at the IoM is lying vacant since nine months ago while the stint of four assistant deans has just completed.

Also accusing TU Vice-Chancellor Tirtha Khaniya of trying to fill the TU with political cadres and medical mafias, he also issued a 12-point ultimatum to sack Khaniya.