Dr KC ends hunger strike after 10-pt pact with govt

Kathmandu / Oct 18 : Senior Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr Govinda KC ended his hunger strike on the 14th day after signing a 10-point pact with the government on Wednesday. In the agreement, the government has assured of addressing Dr KC’s demands including enactment of Health Profession and Education (HPE) legislation through ordinance.

Dr KC ended his hunger strike by drinking a glass of honey and water solution offered by ten-year-old Rojina Tamang at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH).

Immediately after signing the pact, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba held a telephone talks with Dr KC in which the latter demanded that the agreement should be implemented within October 23. Prior to signing the agreement, PM Deuba had called up Dr KC and requested him to end his hunger strike.

The agreement includes endorsement of HPE Bill through ordinance, reduce fee of TU Institute of Medicine (IoM), investigation of irregularities in medical education of Tribhuvan University and Kathmandu University and action against guilty, and taking into account the population, geography, among other factions before granting permission to open a new medical college.

A government team headed by Health Minister Deepak Bohara had reached the TUTH.

The term of Legislature-Parliament had ended on October 14 without addressing Dr KC’s demands of HPE Bill though it had to be passed through the parliament. However, the government has pledged to pass the legislation through ordinance. The ordinance should be endorsed by the next government to be formed after the elections.

The crusader had been staging his 13th hunger strike since October 5 putting forth a four-point demand that includes endorsement of HPE Bill by incorporating suggestions from experts. With the formal end of its term on Saturday (October 14), the Parliament failed to endorse the HPE Bill, after which Dr Govinda KC said his bottom-line was enactment of the legislation through ordinance.

Dr KC’s demands include a 10-year moratorium on the establishment of new medical colleges in Kathmandu Valley. He has also demanded that all medical schools should comply with the fee structure set by the government. Besides, the crusader had also asked for an investigation into the embezzlement of billions of rupees by Nepal Oil Corporation chief Gopal Bahadur Khadka. (ekantipur)