The National Human Rights Commission has urged the government to take immediate steps to save the life of Dr Govinda KC, who has been staging an indefinite hunger strike for the past 16 days.

After enquiring about the health of Dr KC, who has been staging a fast-unto-death at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, the rights body expressed concern over his deteriorating condition.

In a statement issued on Monday, the constitutional rights watchdog pointed at the government’s failure to implement the agreements reached with him on reforming the medical education sector. This is the senior orthopaedic surgeon’s tenth hunger strike.

According to the commission, Dr KC faces heartbeat fluctuation and weakening immunity. The commission on Sunday wrote to the Health Ministry to pay attention to his health, read the statement signed by NHRC Spokesperson Mohna Ansari.

Talks stuck at issue of TU officials’ ouster

KATHMANDU: The government has ruled out the possibility of ouster of Tribhuvan University Vice-chancellor Tirtha Khaniya and Institute of Medicine Dean Dr KP Singh, as demanded by Dr Govinda KC.

Dr YP Singh, who represented Dr KC during the talks, said the dialogue with the government team had made no progress towards ending the hunger strike. “The government side lectured us on legal provisions. We cannot find a solution this way,” said Dr Singh.

The government team proposed developing a system for fair appointment of the IoM dean in the future rather than sacking the incumbent.

As Dr KC’s health worsens by the day, his representatives accused the government of being insensitive to his condition. Education Secretary Shanta Bahadur Shrestha, a member of the government talks team, however, claimed that the dialogue was inching closer to a resolution. The talks would continue on Tuesday. (PR)