Editors of Nepal's dailies and online portals have urged the government to hold meaningful dialogue to address the demands of Dr Govinda KC, who is on the 24th day of his 19th hunger strike demanding reforms in the country’s medical education sector.

Twenty-two editors, in a statement issued on Wednesday, said that the demands put forth by Dr KC concern the issues of national interest that the government wants to address.

“Dr KC is staging his hunger strike at a time when the country is reeling under the Covid-19 pandemic and the government, as a part of its duty, is working to save the lives of the citizens and avert a possible economic crisis,” read the statement.

Stating that the government had finally formed a team to hold dialogue with the agitating doctor, the editors have urged the government to take a meaningful initiative with a decisive mandate.

“Hence the government should take the guardianship and hold talks with KC from the highest level,” read the statement. “All of his [KC’s] demands cannot be addressed in a single day. However, they can be resolved through logical discussion.”

Pointing out the issuance of the National Medical Education Act and formation of the high-level committee headed by former Tribhuvan University vice-chancellor Kedar Bhakta Mathema to formulate a national health education policy as the positive outcomes of KC’s satyagraha, the editors stressed that saving KC’s life comes under the responsibility of saving public health.