Senior orthopedic surgeon at the Maharajgunj-based Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) Govinda KC has postponed his planned hunger strike till January 9.

The anti-corruption crusader decided to put off his hunger strike after the Chairperson of the Education and Health Committee of the Parliament sought one week time to endorse the Medical Education Bill as per the agreement.

Earlier on December 27, Dr KC had warned of staging another hunger strike from January 1 if his demands are not met.

Dr KC informed about the postponement of his hungers strike by issuing a statement on Wednesday. He had reached Ilam on Tuesday for the preparation of another round of hunger strike.

“Following the assurance from the parliament committee I have decided to postpone the protest,” Dr KC said in the statement.

During his 15th hunger strike, Dr KC had demanded that the Medical Education Bill should be endorsed as per the agreement signed with him by the government.

Dr KC has warned that he would stage another round of hunger strike anytime soon if the Parliament Committee tried to subvert the bill. He said that the bill could not be endorsed due to Health Minister.

Dr KC accused the Health Minister of tabling the bill by excluding the people and student oriented provisions.

Likewise, he accused the government and political parties of giving priority to opening of new medical colleges to carry out business instead of providing quality health service to the general public.

Since 2012, Dr KC has staged indefinite hunger strike for 15 times, seeking reforms in medical education sector. He had ended his 27-day long 15th hunger strike, on July 26, after the government agreed to endorse the bill as per the recommendations of the panel led by Dr Kedar Bhakta Mathema.