KATHMANDU: Senior orthopaedic surgeon Dr Govinda KC has begun his 17th hunger strike in Dadeldhura district today.

According to THT’s regional correspondent Baburam Shrestha, Dr KC had confirmed that he would begin his hunger strike in the district today. Shrestha stated that Dr KC’s blood and urine tests were carried out at Dadeldhura Hospital.

Dr KC, however, will not be carrying out the strike inside the hospital premises, reported Shrestha, adding that he would be staying in a private residence belonging to a local, some 500 metres away from the gate of the hospital.

The senior doctor had warned to stage a fresh hunger strike if his seven-point demands were not met by the government, after arriving in Charikot of Dolakha district, on October 15. Organising a press meet there, Dr KC, who has already staged 16 hunger strikes prior to this, gave an ultimatum to the government to address his demands by October 25.

He had warned that if his demands were not addressed before the stipulated time, he would stage his next hunger strike from October 30 until his demands were met by PM Oli-led government.

“I do not have any immediate plans to return to Kathmandu. So I can stage fast-unto-death in any district,” Dr KC, who has been demanding reforms in the medical sector since long, had said.