KATHMANDU, Aug 8: Crusader for medical sector reforms Dr Govinda KC has urged the government to sincerely implement last month's agreement signed with him. He said this after he was discharged from the TU Teaching Hospital (TUTH) on Tuesday, thirteen days after ending his hunger strike.

He had ended his hunger strike on the 27th day on July 26. As his condition was critical, he had been admitted to the ICU immediately after ending his hunger strike. He spent six days in the ICU and seven days in the general ward at the hospital.

Organizing a press conference on the TUTH premises on Tuesday, Dr KC asked the government to sincerely implement the agreement. "I have been struggling for years to bring reforms to the health and medical education sectors for the benefit of the ordinary people," said Dr KC.

"The government also agreed to address these demands," Dr KC said. "However, thirteen days have passed since the agreement but the agreement has yet to be endorsed by the cabinet," he said. "I hope the government will make good on the agreement and not force me to stage yet another hunger strike," he added, while apologizing with the ordinary people for his absence from duty for over a month.

"I hope the government will make good on the agreement and not force me to stage yet another hunger strike."

In the agreement signed with Dr KC, the government has promised to implement the agreement between two weeks and two months. The bill on medical education is being amended in parliament.

Dr KC's demands include provision for 75 percent scholarships in government medical colleges and a restriction on opening new private medical colleges in Kathmandu Valley for the next 10 years, a university issuing affiliation to only five medical colleges, three-year operation of hospital to get affiliation for medical colleges and opening at least one government medical college in each of the seven provinces.

Dr KC launched his first hunger strike in July 2012.

He has also demanded immediate starting of MBBS classes at Karnali Academy of Health Sciences, immediate publicizing of report of medical probe commission led by Gauri Bahadur Karki and taking action against those found guilty, revoking ban on protests at Maitighar and more autonomy for the IOM.

Similarly, other demands include implementation of the report prepared by the officials standard determination committee headed by chairperson of University Grants Commission, compulsory service of two years for MD scholarship students, free MD classes in all private medical colleges, opening government medical colleges in Province 2, Panchthar-Ilam, Dadeldhura-Doti, Udayapur, and expediting the work to establish Rapti Academy of Health Sciences and Geta Medical College.