Senior orthopedic surgeon at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) Dr Govinda KC, who staged several rounds of hunger strikes demanding an end of irregular practices in country’s health and medical profession sector, has asked President Bidhya Devi Bhandari to authenticate the ordinance to enact a new law incorporating the provisions of the Health Profession Education (HPE) Bill within the next seven days. He has warned of resorting to another hunger strike if the president fails to do so.

Organising a press meet at TUTH in Maharajgunj, Kathmandu on Monday, Dr KC issued a seven-day ultimatum to the president for authentication of the ordinance.

The orthopaedic surgeon on October 6 had staged 13th round of hunger strike demanding the Health Profession Education (HPE) Bill be endorsed immediately keeping the recommendations made by a team of experts intact. He broke his fast after 14 days following the government’s promise to enact a law incorporating the provisions of the Health Profession Education (HPE) Bill through an ordinance.

On October 23, the government endorsed the ordinance by incorporating Dr KC’s demands and suggestions of Mathema report.

Although the government endorsed the ordinance two weeks ago in order to address Dr KC’s demands, it is still pending at the President’s office for authentication. The government sent the ordinance to the President’s office a week ago.

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