Dr. Govinda KC Announces 22nd Hunger Strike Over Unaddressed Demands

Kathmandu. Medical education activist Dr. Govinda KC has announced that he will start a hunger strike again from tomorrow (Thursday). Issuing a press release today, Wednesday, from Darchula, Dr. KC announced that he will go on his 22nd hunger strike due to the government's insensitivity and neglect towards his demands. 

The hunger strike is being started after no attention was paid to the demands, despite the government being given a deadline of July 5 (Sawan 5) earlier. The statement warned that the current government will have to take 100% responsibility for any adverse situation arising from this. 

The statement emphasized that medical education and health services should be purely non-profit public sectors, and although the 'National Medical Education Act, 2075 BS' has set a roadmap to make this sector fully non-profit by 2085 BS, the government has been accused of showing no readiness in its implementation. 

Similarly, the government's policy of increasing paid seats in private medical colleges against standards and reducing scholarships has been strongly opposed. Such a move, it is stated, will leave health institutions in rural areas without doctors, deprive poor students of education, and attempts are being made to entrust regulatory bodies like the Medical Education Commission to individuals with conflicting interests, which has been objected to. 

Furthermore, Dr. KC believes that appointments have been made in a self-serving manner at the 'Martyr Dasharath Chand Medical University' in Geta, and efforts are being made to fulfill commercial and political interests by sidelining established institutions. He has demanded that the controversial appointments be immediately revoked, the decision to increase seats and reduce scholarships be reversed, infrastructure be expanded in Sudurpashchim and other border areas, and past agreements be implemented. 

In addition, he has demanded action against those responsible for the violent incidents in Bhadra 2082 BS and impartial investigation and action against corruption committed by high-ranking politicians and officials since 2046 BS.