Dr Govinda KC may end fast-unto-death

KATHMANDU: Tribhuvan Universirty Teaching Hospital's orthopaedic surgeon Dr Govinda KC, who is on his eighth fast-unto-death demanding reforms in Nepal's education sector for last 15 days, may end his strike today.

Dr Jiwan Kshetry, who was involved in negotiation with the government on behalf of Dr KC, said the veteran surgeon may end the strike today as the talks held throughout the day on Sunday were moving toward a positive conclusion.

He, however, refused to give details of the negotiation, claiming he was absent in the talks today.

Sources said the talks headed toward the solution as the government agreed to acquire physical property of the Man Mohan Health Science Academy for the National Academy of Medical Sciences.

The Man Mohan Academy had remained a bone of contention between Dr KC and the government.

It has been learned that the practising doctors and medical students, who had held talks with the government team on behalf of the fasting doctor, are convincing Dr KC to end the strike at the TUTH.

Former Chief Secretary Leela Mani Paudyal and educationist Kedar Bhakta Mathema are also at the hospital to convince Dr KC.

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.

Dr Govinda KC fast-unto-death

Time

Date

Days

1st

July 5-8, 2012

4

2nd

August 11-17, 2012

6

3rd

January 11-24, 2014

14

4th

February 8-15,  2014

8

5th

February 20-March 3 , 2015

12

6th

August 24  – September 6, 2015

14

7th

September 19-29, 2015

11

8th

July 10, 2016-ongoing

15 (till July 24)

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.