Almost three years later, the continued struggle to reform Nepal's medical education still grips the nation's attention.
"Considering how well versed common Nepalis from across different backgrounds have become about the issues plaguing the country's medical education system, it's no longer only the fraternity's concern. It has become a national concern," says Dr Adhikari.
This stands testimony to the many small victories Dr KC and his supporters have had while on their arduous quest to ultimately create an environment that can provide quality health education and services at an affordable cost. It's apparent that Dr KC's camp draws motivation from the enthusiasm of general public as they focus on the uphill road that still lies ahead.
The scope of their protest has expanded from Institute of Medicine (IoM) issues to national medicinal concerns. It's already been a long journey, but whenever the prospect of yet another hunger strike looms, the atmosphere within the camp becomes charged.
"We have always tried to encourage Dr KC to take upon other methods of protest because we have witnessed how he suffers. We have been there when his heart rate has dropped down to 40 or when he caught cold and has had violent coughs. At night, there have been many instances when we have been woken up by his beeping monitors as his pulse rate spikes or drops to dangerous levels. Every single time, we the students, residents, faculty members, who are on his side have, asked him not to go on a hunger strike," shares Dr Suman Archarya, 22.
But there arises a conundrum – what could possibly be a better alternative? At a time, when even the hunger strikes have not coerced the government bodies in taking necessary action, how could the movement maintain its momentum without the sacrifice on Dr KC's part?
Professor YP Singh, Dr KC's colleague and supporter, confesses that he unfortunately does not see a way around this problem. "Dr KC is a man of principles. Even when along with his critics his own supporters have tried to change his mind from embarking on yet another hunger strike due to health concerns, his resolve didn't shake. He is not obliged to continue this fight, but he does even when he has to take the stand alone. It's a mystery as to where he gets such determination from."
Professor Vidhya Dev Sharma, because of his 28 years of friendship with Dr. KC, is well acquainted with his iron will. He reminisces about how they together typed the drafts for the list of reforms Dr KC wanted to see at IoM, back in 2011. Professor Sharma had also witnessed Dr KC trying a variety of means and methods to bring the necessary changes and getting increasingly frustrated when they failed.
"Around six months before the protests officially started, he was already insisting that he would go on a hunger strike if necessary. So when he actually did, it really didn't come as a surprise to me. His dedication to his work is unparalleled. What's more, he is very adamant about his beliefs. He isn't willing to compromise on them. Thus he has even fought against friends he once used to enjoy a cup tea with. I'd give him a zero where diplomatic skills are concerned however, when it comes to ushering in a revolution, I doubt we could have a more fierce leader."
It's a sentiment that is shared by the 300 residents and 500 odd students who stand by him at IoM. They all speak about Dr KC with awe and reverence. It's pretty obvious that they find the doctor's spirit and attitude very inspiring.
"It's always hectic and stressful to organize the hunger strikes. Add to that, we also have many naysayers who always make their presence felt. They want us to feel like it's a hopeless cause. Further as Dr KC's health would deteriorate and his blood or urine tests would show worrying result, sometimes our confidence would falter too," shares Dr Adhikari.
However, according to him, Dr KC leads by example. Dr Adhikari continues, "In those moments, all I had to do was sit with Dr KC. Even when he was so frail, we all could feel his conviction. I think it comes from the fact that he believes in what he is doing. There are no ulterior motives and since he is attempting this with a pure heart, his inner strength is just formidable. Being around such a force has helped us maintain our own beliefs in the cause."
So with immense dedication the students and residents volunteer to take care of the logistics during the protest, deal with the media, manage the visitors, keep tabs of the state of Dr KC's health ,and if need be even help him change clothes or take him to the toilet.
Dr KC's family themselves express gratitude for the students and the resident's unwavering support but for the family, the stakes are clearly higher. For them, this is not a doctor putting his life at risk for the welfare of the country's medical community, for them this is a brother and a son making the ultimate sacrifice.
Suresh KC, a lawyer and Dr KC's younger brother, can't hide his fears while talking about the possibility of a seventh hunger strike. His lips quiver and he struggles to compose himself as he explains, "At home, we are all painfully aware of the fact that the situation can go horribly wrong with his health. But the risk he is taking isn't exactly out of character. We have always known him to take the most difficult of challenges. Besides even together as a family unit, we pretty much have no power over his resolve. He has always been fiercely independent about his decisions so we just pray for his well being."
Dr KC's relatives try and accompany him at his protest whenever their work and personal schedules allow. Of late, his mother Mitra Kumari KC, 88, is also in Kathmandu. She insists on living at their village in Rammechap but recently she has to come to the capital to deal with her own health issues. Many might assume she has been worried sick about her son but she begs to differ.
"If my agonies were of any concern, I'm sure he would have thought about it beforehand and not attempted a hunger strike in the first place. This isn't personal, he is doing what he has to and there is nothing wrong with that. I don't fret about it," says Mitra Kumari.
Suresh KC is quick to add, "That's where Dr shahab gets his resilience from, our mother."
And there is a need to bounce back to action. By the looks of it, the government is still being shady about their commitment to the 11 point deal that was agreed upon before Dr KC recently ended his sixth
hunger strike.
"There is a pattern here. Every single time, the concerned authorities focus seems to be on breaking the fast rather than on working on the reforms. It's frustrating to see such deceitful tactics and incompetence on their part," says Dr Ram Chandra Sapkota, President of Teaching hospital's Resident Association.
Dr Sapkota predicts that there may be more debates, discussions, and protests in store and though he is frustrated by the incompetence and deceitful tactics of the government bodies, he is certain they will continue their fight.
"We have all experienced the need to address the issues on a personal level. For instance, even my batch had about 100 students. The teacher had to use a microphone to be heard and he was barely able to check on what every student was doing. All of us feel that our medical education needs to be carried out with a proper vision," explains Dr Sapkota, adding that decisions cannot be made with monetary or commercial motives in mind.
"We are fortunate that Dr KC was courageous enough to bring up the issues that needed to be addressed, and as responsible members of the medical fraternity, I feel it's our duty to rally behind him," he concludes.
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