As Dr Govinda KC’s indefinite hunger strike enters third day, resident doctors have warned of disruption in services if the hospital does not provide adequate treatment facilities for him.

When Dr KC began his fast on Sunday, all the empty rooms were locked by the TU Teaching Hospital administration and the only space available was Dr KC’s own faculty room where he used to rest during night duties.

A hospital bed has been brought into this small room. Dr KC’s supporters said that they have no adequate space to fit in additional equipment including monitors to observe blood pressure and heartbeat. “If the health condition of Dr KC deteriorates, there will be no option but to press the hospital for adequate care,” said Dr Leison Maharjan, chairman of the National Resident Doctors Association (NRDA) at the Institute of Medicine. “But we will make sure our protest does not inconvenience patients.”

The NRDA and the Nepal Medical Students’ Society issued a joint statement on Tuesday, urging the hospital to make proper arrangements for the doctor’s care.

Dr KC is fasting on the second floor of the Ganesh Man Singh ENT building on the TUTH premises. The adjoining room where he staged his seventh strike is much bigger.

TUTH Director Dr Deepak Mahara said that they could not provide the room because the “key is lost”. Doctors fear that visitors pouring in to support Dr KC might leave him susceptible to infections as his fast lingers on.

Dr KC has put forth four demands including reforms in the medical education sector and impeachment of Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority chief Lok Man Singh Karki. Since the indecisive talks on Sunday, the government has taken no initiative to resolve the issue.