KATHMANDU, Aug 23: Feeling 'slighted' by the indifference of concerned authorities toward implementation of past accords, Dr Govinda KC of the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) has warned of a fresh hunger strike from Monday afternoon.
Dr KC, a senior Professor at the Institute of Medicine (IoM), had asked the government to implement past accords and the recommendations of a report submitted by Professor Kedar Bhakta Mathema-led high level taskforce by Monday."They fooled me repeatedly. I will not tolerate it anymore," Dr KC told Republica. He said he will resume his hunger strike from 4 pm Monday. "I do not want it but they forced me to stage fast-unto-death yet again," he complained.
Dr KC, who had already staged hunger strike five times in the past had extended his ultimatum by two weeks, after vice chairman of the National Planning Commission (NPC), chief secretary, secretaries at the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) and the Ministry of Education (MoE) requested him to give the government some more time for implementation of the Mathema-led taskforce's recommendations.
The cabinet's social committee had formed a sub-committee to formulate an action plan to implement the policy on medical education. The sub-committee had submitted its report a few days ago.
However, the report submitted by the cabinet's social committee bypasses the recommendations of the Mathema-led taskforce. The taskforce had recommended establishing a single autonomous medical education commission to regulate medical education, fixing MBBS fee and seats and not granting permission to open new medical colleges in capital for a decade, among others.
Meanwhile, Dr KC is also opposed to the decision to appoint office bearers of universities on the basis of political affiliation. He accused the ruling political parties of ruining educational and health institutions.
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