The National Human Rights Commission has urged the government to take immediate steps to end the hunger strike of Dr Govinda KC.

After monitoring the health condition of Dr KC, who has been staging an indefinite fast at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital for the past nine days, the national rights body on Tuesday asked the government to initiate talks to resolve the issue and save Dr KC’s life.

Issuing a statement, the constitutional rights watchdog underscored his right to life. “We draw the attention of the authorities concerned to show sensitivity towards the life of Dr KC irrespective of the form of his protest,” read the statement.

The commission reported that Dr KC faces problems in respiration and joints. Doctors involved in his treatment said his oxygen saturation is erratic, a sign of danger. Dr KC has been demanding reforms in the medical education sector. A majority of his demands are yet to be fulfilled.

Meanwhile, the commission also urged the government to pay attention to the health of civil society leader Chaitanya Prakash Mainali, who has been staging an indefinite hunger strike, and address his concerns.

Mainali demands implementation of a six-point demand including approval to run the Birtamod-based BNC Hospital as a medical college.

BPKIHS medics lend support

DHARAN: Health workers and students at the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan on Tuesday expressed their solidarity with the indefinite hunger strike of senior orthopaedic surgeon Dr Govinda KC on the TU Teaching Hospital premises in Maharajgunj, Kathmandu. A group of doctors and medical students, under the banner ‘Prof Dr Govinda KC Solidarity Group’, warned of strong demonstrations if the government does not address his demands immediately. Dr KC started his ninth fast against the anomalies and commercialisation in medical education. (PR)