Senior Orthopedic Surgeon at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital Dr Govinda KC said his battle to reform the health and education sectors in remote Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces was still on.

“The government signs an agreement but does not implement it,” said Dr KC at a press conference organised in Dhangadhi of Kailali district on Sunday. “The government had signed agreements with me for 15 times, but none of them got implemented. I have issued an ultimatum of December 17 for the government to implement the agreement,” he said.

Anti-corruption campaigner Dr KC, who has been waging a prolonged battle for reforms in the country’s medical education sector, arrived in Dhangadhi after conducting a free health camp in Bajhang district a week ago.

He believes that the construction of Geta Medical College in Dhangadhi will improve the district’s health sector. He is of the opinion that there should be one government medical college each in Doti and Dadeldhura districts of province 7.

KC has also underscored the need to well equip the Seti Zonal Hospital.

“Karnali and Sudurpaschim have been lagging behind in terms of quality education and health,” KC said. “People in this region live below the poverty line and are deprived of quality education and health service.”

Around 95 percent of the country’s population do not have access to quality health care because all the well equipped hospitals are concentrated in city areas, he said.

 “It is unfortunate that people of underprivileged families are dying due to a lack of medical treatment,” he said. “People are making a business out of education and health and I am fighting against it.”

“Who has stopped the government with two-thirds majority from endorsing the bill brought through ordinance?” KC questioned. “The bill has not been endorsed yet because the government does not want it.”

Meanwhile, Dr KC, who had reached Kanchanpur during his Far-West visit, expressed his solidarity with the protesters demanding justice for Nirmala Pant, who was raped and murdered in Kanchanpur on July 26.

“Just sacking the police personnel who tried to protect the culprit by destroying the evidences is not enough. Criminal case should be filed against them,” he said.

“The government has not booked the culprits because they are well connected with the government,” Dr KC said.