Nurse Jyoti Ranabhat, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike since July 30 demanding the government address her 15-point demands, was admitted to the intensive care unit of Bir Hospital on Monday after her health condition deteriorated.

Ranabhat tested positive for ketones and showed low levels of urine, glucose, and blood pressure, along with a slight decline in consciousness, according to those supporting her protest.

“Her health condition is serious, but the government is still not serious towards her demands,” said Kabita Sitaula, a nurse supporting Ranabhat’s cause.

Ranabhat launched the indefinite hunger strike demanding legal and policy reforms to improve the working conditions, pay, and professional security of nursing and midwifery personnel.

Her demands include legal provisions ensuring that nursing and midwifery workers in government institutions, private and community hospitals, medical colleges, and educational institutions receive minimum remuneration, benefits, and allowances based on their qualifications, skills, and responsibilities.

She has also demanded the creation of adequate nursing and midwifery positions in all health institutions, with scientifically determined nurse-to-patient ratios. She has called for the establishment of positions for specialist nurses, specialist midwives, advanced practice nurses, midwife practitioners, and nurse practitioners according to qualifications and areas of expertise.

Other demands include amendments to discriminatory provisions related to nursing and midwifery in the Health Service Act and other existing laws to ensure equal opportunities, fair promotion, leadership development, and permanent, safe, and dignified employment. She has also demanded an end to the practice of keeping nursing and midwifery personnel on long-term contracts.

Sitaula said they held discussions with Dr Bikash Devkota, Secretary for Health at the Ministry of Health and Food Safety, on Monday, but officials had not prepared any concrete plan to address Ranabhat’s demands.

She added that another round of talks could be held by evening but expressed uncertainty over whether the discussions would produce a positive outcome.

According to Sitaula, ministry officials said they could not immediately address Ranabhat’s demands and needed further consultation with concerned agencies.

Meanwhile, MBBS student Dilli Harijan of Kathmandu Medical College has also started a hunger strike from Tuesday, demanding equal internship stipends for medical students in private colleges. Harijan began his protest at 10:25 am, arguing that private medical colleges’ monthly stipend of Rs 10,000 is unfair compared to payments provided at state-run institutions.

"Private medical colleges provide only Rs 10,000 a month as an internship stipend to MBBS students, which is unjust and contrary to the recommendations of the government-formed task force," Harijan said. "Someone has to take the initiative to pressure the government into implementing the recommendations of its own panel. I decided to step forward."

State-run medical colleges provide 50 percent of the salary of a doctor of the eighth rank to the intern doctors, and the committee formed by the Ministry of Education and Sports has recommended to provide equal stipend to the intern students.

Harijan claimed that around 2,000 MBBS and BDS students, who have to be involved in internship, support his initiative, though all could not participate in the protest. He said that he does not need any talks with government representatives, as there is nothing to explain to them.

“What is needed is a meeting of the Medical Education Commission, whose chairman is the Prime Minister himself and take a decision to enforce the recommendation of equal intern stipend,” he said. “I will step aside once the commission takes the decision.”

Internships for students pursuing medical degrees are part of their study, and without completing an internship, they will not get practical marks, meaning that their study will not be completed.