Dr KC launches 16th fast-unto-death in Ilam; House panel passes much-hyped medical education bill

Ilam / Jan 9: Senior Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Govinda KC, who has been demanding reforms in the medical sector for a long time, has launched his 16th fast-unto-death in the district on Wednesday.

Dr KC has started his hunger strike on the premises of an old office building of Department of Urban Development and Building Construction saying that the Oli-led government did not implement the agreement reached with him on April 23.

Education and Health Committee under the House of Representatives today endorsed the much-hyped National Medical Education Bill with the majority, prompting KC to begin his hunger stike.

On January 7, KC had expressed disatisfacton with the draft of National Medical Education Bill endorsed by a sub-committee of the Parliamentary Education and Health Committee saying that the draft bill does not address his all demands.

House panel passes much-hyped medical education bill with majority

Education and Health Committee under the House of Representatives on Wednesday endorsed the much-hyped National Medical Education Bill with the majority.

The draft bill was endorsed despite opposition from the Nepali Congress lawmakers during the committee meeting held earlier today.

However, the ruling party lawmakers have hailed the endorsement of the bill. Ruling NCP lawmaker Yogesh Bhattarai said that the bill has truly honored the deals reached with Dr KC in the past.

“Some people may feel that the endorsement of the bill manipulated or violated the deals reached with Dr KC. In fact, this is win-win for both the government and Dr KC. I would say this is also the victory of Dr KC,” Bhattarai argued.

Presenting a seven-point note of dissent during the meeting, the Congress lawmakers argued that the bill failed to accommodate the deals reached with Dr Govinda KC in the past.

During the meeting, NC lawmaker Gagan Thapa, who is also a former health minister, accused the government and the ruling Nepali Communist Party of betraying the people by not honoring the deals reached with Dr KC.

“The bill has undoubtedly breached the deals reached with Dr KC,” Thapa told during the meeting adding that the bill was endorsed in the interests of some people in the government with the undue influence of some businessmen.