NMA warns of nationwide protest in support of fasting surgeon KC
The Nepal Medical Association (NMA) has said it will stage protests across the country if the government fails to address the demands of Dr Govinda KC who is on a fast-unto-death for the last nine days.
The Nepal Medical Association (NMA) has said it will stage protests across the country if the government fails to address the demands of Dr Govinda KC who is on a fast-unto-death for the last nine days.
An emergency meeting of the NMA on Monday decided to exert pressure on the government to immediately hold talks with the fasting doctor to find a solution.
“His protest has been going on for long. It has already been nine days since he began his 10th fast,” said NMA President Dr Mukti Ram Shrestha. “The government should find a permanent solution so that Dr KC does not have to stage another round of hunger strike.”
The NMA has supported Dr KC during earlier hunger strikers also and has even gone to the extent of calling all doctors and health professionals to stop working to exert pressure on the government to fulfil his demands.
Dr Shrestha said NMA officials would meet Minister for Health Gagan Thapa on Tuesday and hold meetings with hospitals in Kathmandu before making public its protest programmes.
Earlier on Monday morning Dr Shrestha met Dr KC and assured him of NMA’s support to his cause.
Dr KC’s demands include appointment of dean at the Institute of Medicine on the basis of seniority. He began his 10th hunger strike on Sunday. He had been asking the government to appoint Dr JP Agrawal the dean of the IoM on the basis of seniority. But the government has appointed Dr KP Singh as the new dean of the IoM.
Apart from the dean appointment, Dr KC has demanded that the government implement the fee structure in line with the recommendations made by the Mathema Commission. The report states that the fee for the MBBS programme and dental studies should be Rs3.5 million and Rs1.8 million respectively. He has also called for stopping affiliations to new medical colleges. Expediting the process to impeach Lokman Singh Karki, the suspended chief of the CIAA, and action against CIAA commissioner Raj Narayan Pathak for abusing power for personal benefits are other demands of Dr KC.
Doctor’s Demands
- Appointment of dean at the Institute of Medicine on the basis of seniority
- Fixing fee for MBBS and dental courses in line with the recommendations made by the Mathema Commission
- Stopping affiliations to medical colleges until the formation of the Health Profession Education Commission
- Expediting the process to impeach Lokman Singh Karki, the suspended chief of CIAA and action against CIAA commissioner Raj Narayan Pathak
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