Dr KC refuses to be airlifted, to continue hunger strike in Dadeldhura

DADELDHURA, Nov 11: Senior orthopaedic surgeon and medical education activist Dr. Govinda KC, who has been staging his 17th hunger strike in Dadeldhura district since Nov 4, has refused to be airlifted to Kathmandu even though his health is deteriorating fast.

An army chopper had reached Dadeldhura Hospital to airlift Dr. KC to the capital for proper medical attention after the hospital said they did not have necessary medical equipment to take care of KC.

But, Dr KC declined to come to Kathmandu saying he is “healthy” and added he would continue his hunger strike in the district.

Earlier, Minister for Education Girirajmani Pakharel had urged KC to end his fast-unto-death saying his demands have been addressed.

Dr KC, who has accused the government of violating the past agreements reached with him during the previous hungers strikes, has put forth seven-point demand which include amendment of National Medical Education Bill, refund of illegal tuition fees collected by the private medical colleges, free-of-cost medicine to cancer patients and appointment of experts instead of politically affiliated persons in key university and academic positions, and transitional justice bodies.