Dr KC enters 21st day of hunger-strike, talks with govt still uncertain

KATHMANDU: Talks between the side representing Dr Govinda KC and government have become uncertain as the government has not decided yet how to address his demands.

A senior orthopaedic surgeon at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), Dr KC enters 21st day of his hunger-strike today. He has been pressing for reforms in the medical education sector.

The government forcefully airlifted Dr KC to Kathmandu from Jumla for his treatment following a severe deterioration in his health condition yesterday. He had been staging the fast unto death at Karnali Academy of Health Sciences (KAHS) in Jumla.

Minister for Education, Science and Technology Giriraj Mani Pokharel said, although discussions had been held regarding further talks with Dr KC, no decision had been made to that regard yet, as reported by Rastriya Samachar Samiti.

The talks became uncertain after Dr KC's side stuck to the demand that government should withdraw the Medical Education Bill registered in the House of Representatives, which the government did not agree to.

Dr KC and Nepali Congress, the main opposition party in parliament, have been calling to bring the Medical Education Bill as per the spirit of the earlier bill, with the provision to stop providing granting affiliation to medical colleges for the next 10 years in Kathmandu Valley, which was brought by the erstwhile government.

However, the government's stance is that this issue should be decided in accordance with the parliamentary process. Dr KC has also called to form a talks team vested with full powers by the government. The government has formed a three-member talks team coordinated by Education Ministry Secretary Khagaraj Baral.

Dr KC who is at TUTH presently has continued his fast unto death.