KATHMANDU, July 24

Dr Govinda KC, who has repeatedly staged fast-unto-death demanding reforms in Nepal’s medical education sector and guarantee of people’s right to quality health services, on Friday served a 14-day ultimatum to the government to address his five-point demand.

The senior orthopedic surgeon at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital has warned of resorting to peaceful protests, which could be another hunger strike, again if his demands were not met by August 7.

Dr KC has staged fast-unto-death with the same demands for five times over the last few years. All of his protests, however, have ended in agreements with the government.

But most of Dr KC’s demands are hardly addressed, forcing him to stage hunger strike time and again.

Dr KC on Friday demanded that the government immediately make the report submitted by Kedar Bhakta Mathema-led panel on new health education policy public and implement it through a Cabinet decision.

He has also demanded implementation of some of the issues such as uniformity in medical education fee and number of students in MBBS and other courses, from the new academic session.

In compliance with one of Dr KC’s demands, the government in November last year had formed the committee under Mathema and mandated it to draft new health education policy.

The panel had submitted its report to the government on June 29. The panel report has not been made public though.

Dr KC’s other demands included appointment of TU officials on the basis of seniority and merit, action against former TU and IoM officials involved in irregularities and implementation of past agreements, among others.