Two days after breaking his sixth fast-unto-death protest, Dr Govinda KC, senior orthopaedic surgeon at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), has threatened to stage another hunger strike if the government fails to implement the agreements reached on Saturday night.

Dr KC had ended his sixth hunger strike on Sunday after signing an 11-point agreement with the government that had agreed to form Health Profession Education Commission through Monday’s Cabinet meeting. The languid approach of the government to implement the agreement has prompted Dr KC to issue the ultimatum.

Dr KC on Tuesday said that he will begin another fast-unto-death protest from Friday if the Saturday’s agreement is not implemented by Thursday. He accused that the “mafias have bought the entire Cabinet” including the prime minister.

“There is no doubt that all the achievements gained so far will go to waste if we simply listened to the assurances of the dishonest politicians,” Dr KC said.

He has demanded that the Cabinet should take ownership of the 11-point pact within the next three days and direct the concerned authorities to implement the agreement on formation of Health Profession Education Commission, number of medical seats, fee and admission on merit basis.

The warning from Dr KC follows the decision of Cabinet on Monday that directed its Social Committee to implement the understanding, delaying the process of implementation despite outlining details of the commission formation by Health Professional Education Policy.

Dr Govind Pokhrel, who led the government team, said they are morally bound to fulfil Dr KC’ s demands and the latter to remain patient for a few days.

“Chief Secretary and I will soon draw attention of the prime minister on the issue,” Dr Pokhrel said.

Pvt hospitals shut OPD to protest Mathema report

The closure of OPD services at hospitals affiliated to Association of Private Medical and Dental College of Nepal affected hundreds of people across the country on Tuesday.

The owners of private medical colleges had decided to halt the hospital services from Tuesday to press the government to withdraw its decision to implement the recommendations of the Kedar Bhakta Mathema-led committee of setting the fee ceiling of Rs 3.5 million for medical schools and limiting the MBBS seats to 100.

Dr Suresh Kanodiya, acting president of the association, said their protest will continue until the government agrees to not implement the recommendations made by the Mathema report.