The health of Dr Govinda KC, who is on the fourth day of his 16th hunger strike, has started to deteriorate, doctors have warned.

KC, who is examined by doctors from the Ilam District Hospital twice a day, has been shifted to a bed, following complications in his health.

“Glucose level in his body has declined and acetone has been detected in his urine. He is at high risk of cough and pneumonia and his blood pressure has been fluctuating,” Dr Ram Krishna Acharya told the Post.

“Dr KC has been refusing our requests to administer saline [solution] and his health is gradually deteriorating.”

The senior orthopaedic surgeon at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital started his 16th hunger strike on the floor of a private house in Phulgachhi, Ilam. He did not speak to anyone on Saturday as advised by the doctors attending him.

Various groups and individuals expressed their solidarity with Dr KC’s protest on Saturday. Local residents gathered at the venue in huge numbers and took out a solidarity rally in Ilam Bazaar.

A solidarity rally was organised also in Kathmandu to press the government to honour all the agreements signed with Dr KC in the past and to implement the Medical Education Bill in its entirety, as agreed by the government team that persuaded KC to end his 27-day long 15th hunger strike.

“Dr KC has not hinted at any reconsideration of his demands and the government has not taken any initiatives so far,” said Dharma Gautam, a campaigner and aide to KC.

Nepal Medical Association on Saturday issued a statement in support of Dr KC and urged the government to save his life. The NMA warned of an untoward incident, considering KC’s deteriorating health.

The association also urged the government to create an environment for ending the campaigner’s fast once and for all.

KC started his 16th hunger strike on Wednesday after the Education and Health Committee of Parliament endorsed the contested report with added provisions on the bill.