Kathmandu, August 11

Talks held between the government and representatives of Dr Govinda KC ended inconclusively today.

Dr KC has objected to revision of the Medical Education Bill. “The bill should be passed incorporating the recommendations made by the Kedar Bhakta Mathema-led panel,” said Dr Suman Acharya, one of the members of the talks team representing Dr KC.

“The government’s talks team hasn’t even done proper homework for discussion on issues raised by Dr KC. We will continue our protest,” said Dr Abhishek Raj Singh, another member of Dr KC’s team. “The government has also failed to appoint assistant dean at the Institute of Medicine. The talks could also make no headway on the issue of granting autonomy to IOM. Therefore, the protest will continue,” informed Dr Acharya.

Dr KC, a senior orthopaedic surgeon at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, has been on a fast unto death for the past 18 days demanding immediate passage of the Medical Education Bill as per the recommendation made by Mathema-led panel and implementation of the deals the government has signed with him in the past.

Dr KC began his eleventh fast unto death stating that the government had failed to address his demand.

Dr KC’s health is deteriorating each day, according to Dr Dibya Singh Shah, one of the doctors attending to Dr KC. His white blood count, electrolytes, magnesium, calcium, phosphate and sugar has lowered. He is frequently having episodic rise in heart rate up to 200 beats per minute.

“Aceton is also seen in his urine. This triggers problems in kidneys. He might develop life threatening conditions at any point of time and require emergency medical resuscitation,” informed Dr Prerok Regmi, another doctor looking after Dr KC.

Government Doctors’ Association of Nepal has also decided to continue its protest. It has accused the government of not taking any serious initiative to address Dr KC’s demands. “We will continue to shut services in government hospitals until Dr KC’s demands are met,” said Dr Dipendra Pandey, president of GODAN.

Implement past deals: NHRC 

KATHMANDU: A team led by National Human Rights Commission Chairman Anup Raj Sharma on Friday visited Dr Govinda KC at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj.

The team inquired about Dr KC’s health condition.  It also inquired about the progress in talks between the government team and the agitating doctor’s representatives.

The NHRC also appealed to the government to implement agreements reached with Dr KC in the past.

NMA’s objection  

KATHMANDU: Nepal Medical Association on Friday objected to the controversial decision of the task force assigned to finalise Medical Education Bill and decided to shut all medical services, except emergency, in all government and private health facilities across the country.

NMA has also appealed to all medical practitioners to take part in its protest programmes.

Students stage demonstration 

KATHMANDU: Free Students Union, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Institute of Medicine, on Friday staged demonstrations in front of the PM’s residence in Baluwatar demanding fulfilment of Dr KC’s demands.

The students took to the streets, saying attempts were being made to pass the Medical Education Bill without revision. “We want the government to sit for talks and address Dr KC’s demands,” said Nishan Tiwari, a third year MBBS student.

UML accuses govt of duplicity 

KATHMANDU: The CPN-UML on Friday accused the government of double standards over the passage of Medical Education Bill.

UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli said the party had tabled the bill as per the recommendation made by the Kedar Bhakta Mathema-led panel. He also accused the government of failing to fulfil its responsibility. The party has urged the government to immediately hold decisive talks with Dr KC and his representatives.