Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that he will take necessary initiatives to address the demands raised by Dr Govinda KC.

A delegation of doctors led by Dr KC on Friday called on PM Dahal at Baluwatar and apprised the latter of the crisis facing the medical education sector in the country and the demands the orthopaedic surgeon has been making for the last few years.

“My assumption is that the state should take up the responsibility of such basic needs as health and education of the people,” said PM Dahal during the meeting. “It is, however, difficult to address all the issues within the current political and administrative mechanism. However, I understand your demands and will do my best to address them.”

Dr KC informed him about these hunger strikes, including the eighth one recently, and said that he called off his last fast at the request of PM Dahal and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba. He urged PM Dahal to take the issues related to the health sector seriously.

Dr KC, who has long been demanding reforms in the medical education sector, last staged his hunger strike in July.

He broke his 16-day fast on July 25 following assurances that some of his demands would be met.

One of Dr KC’s demands is impeachment of Lok Man Singh Karki, chief of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority.

“I told the prime minister that we are doing what the political parties should have been doing for the reforms in the health and medical education sector,” said Dr KC after the meeting. “I also urged him to keep his word and take initiatives to address my demands,” added Dr KC. “I also told him that

I will not hesitate to stage another round of hunger strike if the demands are not met.”