KATHMANDU, Dec 2: The fifth day of talks between the government and Dr KC’s team failed as Tribhuvan University VC Dr Tirtha Khaniya and IOM Dean KP Singh have refused to resign.
The talks could not begin even at 9:40 pm though both the teams were preparing to start the talks from 6 pm. Three of the five-member talks team representing Dr KC left the talks venue at the Ministry of Education at 10 pm.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal directed Education Minister Dhani Ram Paudel and Health Minister Gagan Thapa to work to address Dr KC’s demands, at a meeting at Baluwatar, Thursday.
Following the PM’s direction, Education Minister Paudel and Health Minister Thapa attempted to seek a way to address the demands of Dr KC, said sources. “However, the TU VC and IOM dean did not care about this.”
Dr KC’s condition is very critical, according to doctors involved in his treatment. His WBC level is lower than the normal count. It is only 3,000 though it must be 4,000 to 11,000. He has chest and respiratory problems. His heartbeat is unstable and the rhythm is disturbed. The NSVT level is fluctuating. “He may suffer critical infections,” said the doctors. “As he may fall unconscious any time, he will be shifted to the ICU from tomorrow.”
Seven wasted months
“We are shocked by what the government is doing about this,” said Dr Jivan Kshetry, coordinator of Dr KC’s talks team. “We are not hopeful about today either.”
Shanta Bahadur Shrestha, head of the government talks team and secretary at the Ministry of Education, did not answer phone calls.
Dr KC began his 10th fast-unto-death from November 13 to protest against anarchy prevailing in the medical education sector.
Protests sparked in support of Dr KC
The supporters of Solidarity with Prof Dr GKC Alliance staged a street rally in Kathmandu on Thursday to press his demands and save his life.
About 6,000 people including health workers participated in the rally, according to Dr Jivan Kshetry, president of the Alliance.
Doctors from across the country halted their work to express solidarity with Dr KC and demand that the government address his demands.
The Nepal Resident Doctors’ Association (NRDA), which has already boycotted academic activities at the Institute of Medicine for more than a week, also boycotted all services at TUTH except emergency from Wednesday, in support of the strike and demands of Dr KC.
Dean appointment rules drafted
The panel headed by Dr Ramesh Kant Adhikari, former dean of the Institute of Medicine (IOM), submitted a draft report to the Office of Tribhuvan University (TU) on Thursday.
The draft has provisioned standards for the appointment of the dean as per the demands of Dr Govinda KC, according to sources. “The process will now move ahead as per the new standards to address the demands of Dr KC,” said TU VC Dr Tirtha Raj Khaniya.
As per the draft, the new dean will be appointed after recently appointed IOM Dean Dr KP Singh resigns. However, Dr Singh has refused to resign before the appointment of the new dean.
