Dr KC, a senior professor at the Institute of Medicine (IoM), had warned to start a hunger strike from Monday evening citing government's indifference towards his demands. He has already staged seven hunger strikes in the past, bringing government to heel and sign agreements with him to reform the country's medical education sector."As per the request of the civil society members, I have decided to postpone the schedule hunger strike for two weeks," Dr KC said on Monday.
He, however, warned that he would be compelled to start a fast-unto-death if the Manamohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences-2015 Bill is not withdrawn from the parliament by February 8.
He has also demanded the implementation of the past pacts regarding the selection of university office bearers, formation of judicial probe committee to investigate anomalies in the medical education sector and action against those found guilty.
"I have no new demands. I am only demanding the implementation of past agreements," said Dr KC. He has thanked the civil society members for their support and thanked them for owing his demands.
The cabinet meeting of Friday has formed a Medical Education Commission whose prime task would be to form a medical policy, which is one of the main demands of Dr KC.
Professor Kedar Bhakta Mathema, who led the high-level task force that recommended broad changes to the country's medical education sector, said, although formation of the Medical Education Commission by the government was a positive thing, its other actions ran counter to the agreements reached with Dr KC.
"The formation of Medical Education Commission is a good thing, but trying to bring new medical academy at the same time is against the spirit of past agreements," Mathema, said.
Meanwhile, Minister for Education Giriraj Mani Pokhrel on Monday claimed that he is committed to implement Mathema task force report to improve the quality of medical education in Nepal.
At a program held in Kathmandu on Monday, Minister Pokhrel requested Dr KC not to start another hunger strike.
Related story
People's representative on hunger strike demanding electricity
