KATHMANDU: Senior orthopaedic surgeon and medical activist Dr Govinda KC who began his 16th hunger strike in Ilam on January 9, was airlifted to Kathmandu at 3:00 am on Friday.

Dr KC was carried to Bhadrapur in Jhapa by an ambulance and thereafter a Nepal Army helicopter airlifted him to Kathmandu at around 3:00 am.

Dr KC is currently under observation at Intensive Care Unit in Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), Maharajgunj in Kathmandu.

The agitating doctor, despite frail health, will carry on his hunger strike at the Hospital.

Dr KC's health condition was deteriorating in the last few days -- the level of glucose in his body had fallen by one third and ‘Ketone’ was detected in his urine, doctors had reported earlier.

Moreover, doctors had reported that KC was experiencing difficulty in breathing while his blood pressure levels were fluctuating. His immunity was weakening and he was thus becoming vulnerable to infections. He had cough and was suffering from chest pain.

Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, former speaker Daman Nath  Dhungana, former TU Vice-chancellor Kedar B Mathema, senior advocate Surendra Bhandari among others had reached Ilam on Thursday to take stock of KC's health and initiated the shift to a health institution in Kathmandu.

Dr KC started his sixteenth fast-unto-death on January 9 from Ilam, demanding that the National Medical Education Bill be passed as per the latest agreement between him and the Oli government.

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