Dr KC puts off hunger strike
Sep 20, 2016- Dr Govinda KC, senior orthopaedic surgeon at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, has postponed his fast-unto-death protest by a week after the government expressed its commitment to implement the past agreements.
Dr KC had warned of staging a hunger strike for the ninth time from Monday to press for reforms in medical education sector, including depoliticising the health care governing body.
He decided to put off the protest after a Cabinet meeting on Sunday night agreed to withdraw the bill on establishing Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences and begin discussion on Health Profession Education bill in Parliament from September 25.
Dr KC has termed the Cabinet decision a positive step. He, however, said that he has yet to hear from the government about his demand for brining an impeachment motion against Commission of Investigation of Abuse of Authority’s Chief Commissioner Lokman Singh Karki.
Karki is accused of abusing his position to influence results of the exams conducted by a medical college in the Capital. Dr KC has said that he will wait till September 26 for the government to begin the impeachment process of Karki.
Meanwhile, the government has sent Dr KC a letter, outlining its decisions towards addressing his demands.
The letter, signed by Health Minister Gagan Thapa and Education Minister Dhaniram Poudel, mentions, among others, the government plan to set up a medical college in each province and its preparation to immediately appoint dean at the Institute of Medicine (IoM).
Dr KC has been staging hunger strikes since 2012 against political meddling in medical colleges and unscientific distribution of medical colleges in the country.
The last time he resorted to fast-unto-death protest was in July, which he ended after 16 days, following the government’s commitment to address his demands.
This is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Accordingly, it is difficult to figure out when to end it. But then, this is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Period.
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon