Dr Govinda KC has warned of staging another hunger strike starting on October 6. This will be the 12th hunger strike of the agitating doctor who has long been demanding an end to the anomalies in the country’s health education and medical sector.

This time around, Dr KC has put forth four demands including immediate endorsement of the Health Profession Education Bill by incorporating suggestions from the Mathema Commission Report.

The orthopaedic surgeon has demanded that all bodies should comply with the government-proposed fee structure for medical colleges along with removal of Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences Dean Dr Rajendra Koju and revocation of the KU decision to charge medical education fees higher than the government-set amount.

The crusader has also asked for proper investigation into the embezzlement of billions of rupees by Gopal Bahadur Khadka, who was sacked as the chief of Nepal Oil Corporation on Monday, and necessary legal action against him.

Immediate suspension of other public post bearers who aided Khadka in the land purchase scandal and action against them are also among the demands.

Allocation of budget for initiating official classes at the Karnali Health Science Foundation, expedition of works at government medical colleges in Dang and Kailali and initiation of the process to open government medical colleges in other parts of the country is also on the list of demands.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Dr KC, a senior orthopaedic surgeon at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, said that mafia still rule the roost in the medical sector despite his numerous attempts in the past to subdue them and create a better health education system in the country.

He accuses the three major parties of forming a syndicate among themselves to endorse the health education bill in a way that benefits medical mafia rather than the public or students.

Dr KC has also accused the big parties of obstructing the establishment of government medical colleges in many parts of the country in order to fulfil their vested interests under the influence of medical mafia.

“We will never allow politicians to take medical education as an opportunity to turn their black money into white by investing in this sector,” the statement read.

NMA plans protest against govt move

KATHMANDU: As the government failed to rescind its decision on Tuesday on the compensation for medical accidents to be paid by doctors, the Nepal Medical Association (NMA) has begun preparations to shut all the health facilities from Thursday.

The NMA, an umbrella organisation of doctors, has summoned its members in the Kathmandu valley on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the protest programme.

The Cabinet on Monday proposed a law that will require the attending physician to pay compensation for harms on patients if investigations reveal the doctor’s negligence in the treatment process. The government had decided to direct the Health Ministry to draft a bill that holds doctors accountable in view of frequent reports of doctors’ negligence while treating patients.

“Doctors are not motivated to work in such an environment of fear. The decision, if not corrected, will only benefit professional criminals and groups who bargain in hospitals,” said Dr Lochan Karki, general secretary of the NMA.

Dr Karki said the gathering on Wednesday will press the government to withdraw its decision.

The NMA has invited chiefs of medical colleges across the country and hospital directors inside Kathmandu Valley. Presidents of professional bodies of specialist doctors are also invited. (PR)