Dr KC, in a press conference prior to his strike, said the recent directives from Prime Minister Sushil Koirala to grant affiliation to medical colleges is “not a good sign” and reflects pressure exerted to PM by “medical mafias”. PM Koiala, who is also the chancellor of Tribhuvan University, had directed the Ministry of Education three weeks ago to begin the affiliation process of medical colleges deemed eligible by the Nepal Medical Council and an expert panel.

The ministry had then written to the university to grant affiliation to such colleges. The IoM, however, denied granting affiliation.

“Even the PM and the government have failed to address my demands. Now people will be the one to give me justice,” Dr KC said.

When asked why he resorted to strike despite recent IoM decision not to grant affiliation, he said it was a “daring act” by the IoM to reject PM’s directive.

“But how long can IoM withstand such pressure. It is obvious that medical college owners will leave no stone unturned to start operation of their colleges,” he said.

Dr KC’s demands include action against officials who are trying to relocate the MBBS programme, being run under the Institute of Medicine, to Kirtipur. He has also urged the government to implement reports submitted in February 2014 by two expert panels formed to study the necessity of medical university in the country, draft the medical education standards and prepare medical college affiliation frameworks.

Likewise, he has also demanded the formation of a committee to formulate medical education policy and action against people who granted affiliation to Biratnagar-based Birat Medical College and the Rupandehi-based Devdaha Medical College, among others.

Dr KC has already staged hunger strike for four times against the anomalies and mismanagement surrounding medical colleges.