Dr Govinda KC on Saturday warned of launching another round of hunger strike from Sunday. If he goes on hunger strike, it will be the 10th in the last four years.

Dr KC had called off his ninth fast-unto-death on October 7 citing the inconvenience that could cause to general public during the Dashain festival. He however had made it clear then only that he would start hunger strike again if “the government fails to address” his demands.

Dr KC has long been calling for major reforms in the medical education sector of the country. His earlier hunger strikes have brought about some major changes in the sector, but some of his demands are yet to be addressed.

His demand that the dean of the Institute of Medicine be appointed on the basis of seniority is yet to be addressed. 

Issuing a statement on Saturday, the senior orthopaedic surgeon at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) served an ultimatum to the government, saying that failure to address his demands including appointment of the dean at the IoM and fixing of medical education fees by 2pm Sunday would mean his 10th round of hunger strike. 

During his recent hunger strikes, he had demanded impeachment of Lok Man Singh Karki.

With an impeachment motion being discussed in Parliament since October 25, Karki currently remains suspended as the chief of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority.

Demands

-     Appoint dean at the Institute of Medicine on the basis of seniority

-     Sack Tirtha Raj Khaniya from the post of vice-chancellor of Tribhuvan University

-     Fix MBBS course fees at Rs 3.5 million and Rs 3.85 million in Kathmandu Valley and outside the Valley respectively

-     Fixing the course fees for Bachelor in Dentistry at Rs 2 million

-     Halt affiliations to medical colleges until a new medical bill is approved by Parliament 

Surgeon’s earlier fasts-unto-death

Date               Number of days

July 5-8, ’12    4

Aug 11-17, ’12    6

Jan 11-24, ’14    14

Feb 8-15, ’14    8

Feb 20-March 3, ’15    12

Aug 24-Sept 6, ’15    14

Sept 19-29, ’5    11

July 10-25, ’16    16 

Sept 26-Oct 7    12