KATHMANDU, Oct 10: As the government failed to reach an agreement with representatives of Dr Govinda KC, the Nepal Medical Association is preparing to unveil a series of nationwide protest programs in a bid to exert pressure on the government to fulfill Dr KC’s demand.

The umbrella association of medical doctors has called an emergency meeting at 4 pm to launch nationwide protests starting Sunday, according to a member of NMA.

The member further said that the NMA is preparing to boycott all the services except emergency and COVID-19 services.

Senior orthopedic surgeon Dr Govinda KC has been staging a hunger strike for the last 27 days demanding reforms in the medical sector of the country. Although the health condition of Dr KC is already deteriorating, the government has shown apathy towards fulfilling his demands.

The talks between the government and the agitating Dr Govinda KC on Friday failed after Minister for Education Giriraj Mani Pokharel allegedly turned down some of the key agreements reached at the level of talks team of both the sides.

At the heart of the dispute between the two sides lies on an arrangement to appoint office bearers at the Institute of Medicine (IOM), Tribhuvan University. The talks team of Dr KC has demanded that the government agree to bring amendment in the existing laws and establish criteria to ensure that the appointments of IOM Dean and other office bearers are made strictly on the basis of seniority—something the government side does not appear comfortable.

The talks team of both the sides on Thursday itself had reached a tentative agreement on all six demands put forth by Dr KC, who has been staging a fast-unto-death protest for the past 27 days. But the government talk team coordinator Gopinath Mainali, who is also Secretary at the Ministry of Education, wanted to receive nod from the line minister before reaching a formal agreement.

 
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