KATHMANDU, May 24: Dr Govinda KC, senior orthopedic surgeon at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, has decided to stage another fast-unto-death from May 27, after extending his ultimatum to the authorities by three days .
A six-day ultimatum issued to the government on May 17 to address his two-point demand ended on Tuesday. An agreement reached for ending the previous fast unto death had pledged to fulfil Dr KC's demands by May 22. However, the government has not take any decision regarding the demands.
Dr KC, who also teaches at the Institute of Medicine, said he would stage a hunger strike from coming Saturday if his demands are not met. “Though the ultimatum ended today, I have given the government three more days,” said Dr KC in a statement issued on Tuesday.
“I am compelled to go for another hunger strike as this time also the agreement has not been implemented,” said Dr KC. “The draft of the proposed Medical Education Act has been changed to serve the interests of the medical mafia. The bill should be passed as origionally drafted and should including our suggestions in line with past agreements and the recommendations of the Mathema report,” he said. “I will continue the fast-unto-death until the government takes a concrete decision to address the demands.”
Organizing a press meet at Maharajgunj on May 17, Dr KC issued a two-point statement demanding withdrawal of the impeachment motion against Chief Justice Sushila Karki and implementation of past agreements including bringing the proposed Medical Education Act within six days.
Lawmakers from Nepali Congress and CPN (Maoist Center) registered an impeachment motion against Chief Justice Karki last month. However, after a writ petition was filed against the impeachment, the apex court ordered that Karki be allowed to return to her duties.
Dr KC began his 10th fast-unto-death from November 13 to protest anarchy prevailing in the medical education sector and it ended after another agreement was reached with the government. KC ended his 10th hunger strike following a 12-point agreement with the government's representatives on December 4.
The agreement includes bringing the Medical Education Act, implementing past agreements, stopping the issue of affiliation to private medical colleges before new rules are in place, ending the commercialization of medical education, forming a panel to probe irregularities in the medical sector, opening a government medical college in each province, and taking action against Tribhuvan University officials who resorted to harming medical education itself.
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