Rights bodies urge govt to take care of Dr KC

Published On: July 6, 2018 06:00 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, July 6: Various human rights and governance bodies have urged the government to take measures immediately to save the life Dr Govinda KC, who is on a hunger strike demanding reforms in the medical education sector.Dr KC, senior orthopedic surgeon and professor at the Institute of Medicine (IOM), started 15th fast-unto-death in Jumla from June 30, demanding passage of the to replace the National Medical Education Ordinance. His condition has been reported to be serious on the sixth day of the hunger strike.

On Wednesday, Dr KC was admitted to the ICU at Karnali Academy of Health Sciences.Issuing a statement on Thursday, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) urged the government to take care of Dr KC's health. The NHRC urged the government to sincerely implement the agreements signed with Dr KC. The human rights watchdog body also requested the health workers not to shut down the services at hospitals.Nepal Medical Association, the professional organization of medical doctors and dentists, has urged the NHRC on Wednesday to pressure the government to save Dr KC's life.

Similarly, Transparency International-Nepal in a statement said that the government should address the demands of Dr KC and save his life.Meanwhile, Health Minister Upendra Yadav has instructed the authorities to provide necessary care and treatment to Dr KC. According to the Ministry of Health and Population, a two-member medical team of Dr Jeevan Thapa and Dr Subas Subedi left Kathmandu for Jumla on Thursday. Some other health workers from Nepalgunj will join the doctors in Jumla for Dr KC's treatment.

The demands of Dr KC in his 15th hunger strike include immediately endorsing replacement bill of Medical Education Ordinance without change, immediate publicizing of report of medical education probe commission led by Gauri Bahadur Karki and taking action against 43 officials, implementation of report prepared by the employees standard determining committee, revoking ban on staging protest programs at Maitighar and formulation of law to discourage threats against doctors and health workers.