Dr Govinda KC, who has been on a hunger strike for six days demanding reforms in medical education and healthcare, has vowed to continue his protest until the government addresses his demands. The campaigner rejected the government’s appeal to end his fast, with the Ministry of Education and Sports claiming that most of his demands have either been fulfilled or are being addressed.

The ministry issued a statement on Monday outlining the progress made on KC’s six demands. 

In a response on Tuesday, KC accused the government of taking decisions that contradict the principles of good governance and social justice. Rather than implementing the agreement reached with him on July 27, the government had made decisions going against its spirit and intent, he said.

“In these circumstances, there is a question of whether further talks with the government would bring only more assurances that are never implemented, forcing us to resume satyagraha and other forms of protest,” KC said in his statement.

KC maintained that his protest would continue until his demands for reforms in medical education and healthcare, good governance and social justice were addressed. He also warned that the government would be responsible for any adverse consequences arising from the protest.

KC began his 25th hunger strike (his first was in July 2012) at Narayan Temple in Ilam on October 29. After developing health complications, he was admitted to Ilam Hospital. Doctors there recommended his transfer to a better-equipped facility, prompting his evacuation by helicopter to Kathmandu on Monday. He is currently receiving care at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital.

On the question of medical education seats at Martyr Dasharath Chand University of Health Sciences in Geta, Kailali, the ministry said they had been allocated on the basis of an inspection report by the Medical Education Commission. It maintained that the university was preparing to run MBBS, nursing and other academic programmes after meeting the required infrastructure, faculty, and legal standards. The ministry also said seat numbers at government medical colleges had been increased in accordance with approved criteria.

KC has strongly objected to the allocation of 90 seats at Geta, including for the MBBS programme. Arguing that the university has yet to meet the necessary infrastructure requirements, he has demanded that the decision be revoked and academic programmes begin only after the teaching hospital becomes fully operational.

The ministry, however, says the 300-bed teaching hospital is already fully operational and that its capacity will be expanded gradually. The government granted permission for the hospital to operate as a teaching hospital in June this year. Doctors working there have continued to report shortages of medical equipment and qualified personnel.

The ministry also said the government had initiated amendments to several laws to introduce additional criteria for appointments to university leadership positions, with the aim of making the process transparent and free from political influence. It said the ministry itself would investigate allegations of irregularities and conflicts of interest in appointments.

KC has demanded the suspension of the Medical Education Commission’s vice-chair, the university’s vice-chancellor and registrar pending an investigation.

He has alleged a conflict of interest involving the appointment of Medical Education Commission Vice-chair Devendra Bahadur Khatri and the allocation of academic seats. Khatri is a former principal of a medical college run by the Nepal Army. KC has also accused him of appointing his wife, Ratna Khatri, to the inspection committee formed to assess institutions for seat allocation.

Khatri has denied any impropriety, saying seats were allocated on the basis of recommendations from the inspection team and that experts were appointed from an established roster.

KC has accused regulators of routinely granting permission to institutions that fail to meet even minimum infrastructure and academic standards. He alleges that some institutions create a superficial appearance of compliance, with the collusion of regulatory authorities, to secure approval. He has also demanded that the government reverse appointments of people he considers unqualified, controversial or affected by conflicts of interest to senior positions at medical universities and the Medical Education Commission.

According to the ministry, a task force formed through a ministerial decision on August 12 is preparing a draft report assessing the implementation of previous agreements with KC.

The ministry also said investigations and legal action were underway against those involved in arson, vandalism and looting across the country during the Gen Z protests on September 9, 2025.

It said work was under way to establish medical education institutions in Surkhet, Butwal and Bardibas as part of a plan to expand access to medical education across all provinces. The process of securing additional funding for the initiative is also under way.

Reiterating the government’s commitment to improving medical education and strengthening good governance in response to KC’s concerns, the ministry urged him to withdraw his hunger strike, saying further action plans could be developed through dialogue and cooperation.

The ministry said discussions had taken place on forming a government negotiation team, but no formal team had yet been constituted, and talks had not begun.

Pawan Thapa, an aide to KC, accused the government of showing little interest in negotiations. “The Education Ministry has issued a statement to give the impression that it has listened to the demands behind the hunger strike. But it has shown no genuine concern about addressing them,” he said.

The Nepal Medical Association, the Broad Civil Movement and other concerned groups have also appealed to the government to address KC’s demands through dialogue and negotiations and take steps to protect his life.