KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 11
Medical sector reformist Dr Govinda KC today declared he would stage a fast-unto-death hunger strike from September 15 as he was dissatisfied with the government's decision to allow the Medical Education Commission to work in a competitive manner and end influences over it.
Around a month ago, Dr KC had made similar threats asking the government to act promptly to end the irregularities in the Commission. However, after the government asked for a deadline of September 14 to act as per his demand, he had withdrawn the plan to sit for hunger strike.
Since there are only two more days for the deadline, Dr KC declared he would stage the hunger strike upon being convinced about the government's inaction.
In a press meet today, Dr KC raised concerns about the intention of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to re-appoint a new vice-chairperson of the Commission based upon his interest rather than the actual interest to improve the medical education system.
Dr KC alleged that these appointments were made through improper seat allocation influenced by political affiliations and external interests of medical mafias. Without naming anyone, Dr KC has alleged that the officials are not right candidates as they also operated private medical colleges and their conflict of interest matched people having vested interest.
"The current government has punished the Medical Education Commission by not electing former vice-chairperson whose team was able to save its autonomy and keep it safe from political influence.
Appointing office bearers who are political cadres will allow groupism and medical mafias at the Commission, and eventually bring it down. It is clearly visible that mafias and other people are trying to weaken the commission, and thus the government must be accountable," Dr KC said.
It was Dr KC whose weeklong stern hunger strike had exerted pressure on the government to bring reforms in the medical sector and establish a powerful Medical Education Commission to manage all sorts of medical education through one system.
However, even after its establishment, irregularities in medical education have not ended, with political parties trying to influence the Commission for serving their vested interest.
Dr KC has also asked all to stop spreading rumours that his demands have made more Nepalis go abroad to pursue medical education.
"We want the government run teaching hospitals in all the provinces. We want all deserving Nepali candidates to get quality medical education and put an end to medical business," Dr KC said.
Dr KC has also put forth demand to open government-owned medical colleges on the basis of population in various places like Ilam, Udayapur and Dadeldhura.
A version of this article appears in the print on September 12, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
