KATHMANDU: Senior orthopaedic surgeon of the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), Dr Govinda KC, has launched a hunger strike for the sixth time on Monday.

Dr KC has started the fast-unto-death from 4:00 pm this afternoon putting forth an eight-point charter of demands for the overhaul of medical science sector.

Expressing discontent over the government's apathy to implement the report on Nepal's health education policy submitted by the taskforce led by Kedar Bhakta Mathema, he demanded that the office-bearers at all universities including the TU and the National Academy of Medical Sciences be appointed on the basis of seniority and competence, but not on political affiliation.

Other demands include an investigation into reports of fake patients and physical infrastructure shown by medical colleges during monitoring before receiving affiliation, immediate tabling of the Medical University Bill in the Parliament and management of education of students of Janaki Medical College, which has been halted for the past one year.

In an address before beginning the strike, Dr KC said that he has stepped into struggle with the belief of reforms the education sector and demanded that the health services be accissible in rural areas.

Dr KC has staged the hunger strike at the third floor of Ganeshman Singh Memorial Building on the premise of ENT Department of the Teaching Hospital.