Dr KC’s team, Government talks inconclusive

Kathmandu / July 25: Talks between Dr Govinda KC’s team and government representatives ended inconclusively today.

Citing that the government team had not done its homework prior to sitting for discussion, Dr KC’s team called off the discussion until government commits to making changes to the Medical Education Bill in accordance with the list of reforms handed by the former.

This was the first time the two sides held a formal dialogue since Dr KC began fast-unto-death 25 days ago.

Abhishek Singh, a member of Dr KC’s team, lashed out at the government for its apathetic attitude toward Dr KC despite his critical health condition and accused it of not intending to enter into the clause-wise discussion.

Dr KC’s team has stated that they would not sit for talks with the government team again until it expresses commitment to amend the medical education bill as per the proposals floated by them.

Dr KC has insisted on bringing the Medical Education Act without making any change to the Medical Education Ordinance, which had provisioned 75 percent scholarships in government medical colleges, a university granting affiliation to only five colleges and a 10-year moratorium on the establishment of new private medical colleges in the Kathmandu Valley.

Dr KC, who launched his first hunger strike in July 2012 for reforms in the medical education sector, began his 15th hunger strike from June 30 in Jumla. He put forth seven-point demand including bringing a Medical Education Act without any changes, immediate publicizing of report of the medical probe commission led by Gauri Bahadur Karki and taking action against those found guilty by the commission, revoking ban on protests at Maitighar and formulation of law to discourage threats against doctors and health workers.

Later, Dr KC was forcefully airlifted by the government to Kathmandu from Jumla on July 19.