Kathmandu, October 11: Dr Govinda KC who was on a hunger strike for the past 28 days, quit the protest this morning after the government reached eight-point agreement with him. He broke the hunger strike by receiving juice administered by a cleaner at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital where he was strike, demanding reform in medical education sector.

Dr KC this time had begun his strike from Jumla. Later the government brought him Kathmandu on the 19th day of the protest following his deteriorating health.  The agreement was signed between the talk team coordinator Gopinath Mainali, also the Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and Dr KC.

The government made it clear that it had begun establishing medical colleges in different places across the country. Construction of building for Geta Medical College and Hospital was over and other related infrastructures were being readied.

Similarly, self-evaluation report was submitted to the Medical Education Commission on the launch of MBBS programme at the Karnali Academy of Health Sciences. Lands have been acquired at Bardibas, Butwal and Surkhet for the establishment of government medical college at state level and even the master plan for this had already been approved. Similarly, environment impact assessment has been finalized and detailed project report begun on it, it was informed. RSS

Photo By : Mukunda Kalikote/NepaliReporter

KATHMANDU, Feb 1: Dr Govinda KC, who had been waging a hunger strike demanding reform in the medical education sector for 24 days, ended the strike on Friday evening.

Dr KC broke the hunger strike organizing a press conference at TU Teaching Hospital. Sweeper at the hospital Amrit Pujari and former Chief Justice Sushila Karki administered juice to him to end the protest.

Issuing a press release following the end of the strike, Dr KC said, “I quit the hunger strike considering that the continuation of struggle at a time when the National Medical Education Bill was already passed by both the House of Representatives and the National Assembly would not create any effect but hassle patients.”

Dr KC also said he would launch different sort of struggle to get his demands, omitted by the bill, fulfilled.

Dr KC, who had begun the hunger strike from Ilam this time on January 9, was brought to Kathmandu owing to deteriorating health on January 17.

The government had however repeatedly urged Dr KC to end the hunger strike, arguing that the National Medical Education Bill 2075 finely addressed his demands.

Earlier, various dignitaries had requested Dr KC to end the strike considering his health on Friday itself. RSS

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Govt will not yield to Dr KC’s hunger strike: Jhala Nath Khanal

KATHMANDU, Feb 1: The government last week endorsed the controversial National Medical Education Bill 2075 in the parliament with majority, amid protest from the main opposition party Nepali Congress. Medical education reform activist Dr Govinda KC has been staging his 16^th hunger strike demanding revision in the Bill since January 9. He has accused the government of breaching the agreement in the Bill reached with him in his 15^th hunger strike, and is reluctant to end his fast-unto-death until the government addresses his demands. Meanwhile, Nepal Medical Association has decided to shut down all kind of health services throughout the country demanding the government take immediate initiatives to save Dr KC’s life. The Nepali Congress is also preparing to launch protest programs in all 77 districts condemning the government’s bulldozing move as against the parliamentary practice. However, the government has claimed that the Bill has accommodated 95 percent of the Dr KC’s demands.

Senior leader of the ruling Nepal Communist Party Jhala Nath Khanal, during an interview with Reporters’ Club Nepal President Rishi Dhamala at a radio program Nepali Bahas, reiterated that the government passed the bill according to the legislation and completing the parliamentary process. He added that the government will not bow to Dr KC’s strike. Excerpts:

The government forcibly approved the National Medical Education Bill in the parliament. The opposition Nepali Congress has slammed the government’s move as against the parliamentary culture. Is the country heading toward tussle?

Parliament runs according to rules and legislation. It is a globally accepted rule. Neither ruling nor opposition can force anything in the parliament. The opposition should not forcefully attempt to change what has been approved by majority.

Was it necessary to forcibly approve the Bill?

We have accommodated 95 percent of the agreements reached Dr KC.

Why was the agreement reached with Dr KC breached?

It is not always necessary to compulsorily address the understandings reached between the two parties. Agreement is understanding. The understandings can adapt some changes in order to find a common ground. Both parties should accept the changes.

Dr KC has demanded Prime Minister’s resignation and warned protest if the Bill is not corrected. What happens next?

Dr KC is free to do whatever he wants. But he should be aware of the consequences.

It seems the ruling party is encouraging the protests instead by forcibly passing the Bill. Will not this move add more problems?

The government implemented what has been agreed. We have completed all he parliamentary process to pass the Bill.

Is it suitable to force the two-third majority? The Nepali Congress has warned nationwide protest against the government.

Like I said earlier, we approved the Bill according to the legislation and completing the parliamentary process.

Wasn’t Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara was widely criticized?

Speaker Mahara was not widely criticized. As an opposition party, the Nepali Congress criticized him. It is normal.

Dr KC has been staging hunger strike since January 9. Why is the government unwilling to hold talks with him?

We have hold conversation with Dr KC several times in the past. The agreement was the output of discussion. How many times do we have to hold talks? The Bill was brought as per the agreements reached with him. If anything that need correction now is punctuation. Is it appropriate to stage strike repeatedly and bring new demands? It is not the way to run the country. The government will not bow to Dr KC’s strike now. The Bill has been endorsed with majority. The government is not in the position to reconsider or revise the Bill neither Dr KC is in the position to press demands. We know their intention not to let the majority government rule and pass the Bill.

KATHMANDU, Feb 1: Police arrested more than a dozen of doctors on Friday, who were staging protest in support of agitating Dr Govinda KC, from Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital.

The police arrested about 17 doctors associated with Nepal Medical Association (NMA) from outside the hospital, where Dr KC has been staging his 16^th fast-unto-death demanding revision in the National Medical Education Bill 2075.

The NMA on Thursday, decided to shut down all the health services except emergency across the country in protest against the government’s move to endorse the bill at the parliament, in support of Dr KC. The association also urged all the private and individual health workers to cooperate their protest.

Metropolitan Police Range Kathmandu’s spokesperson Hobindra Bogati said the doctors were arrested as they tried to block the road holding a demonstration.

According to him, the arrested doctors have been kept at the Nepal Police Club. Among the doctors held by police are Dr Sumit Pandey, Dr Bishal Agrawal and Dr Hemanta Bastola.

The doctors, however, claimed that the police arrested them while they were organizing a peaceful rally.

Basic health services which are the right of the common people have been adversely affected at the hospital after demonstrations started to be organised at the hospital premises for and against Dr KC’s demands.

KATHMANDU, Jan 31: The main opposition party Nepali Congress obstructed the House of Representatives meeting on Thursday demanding the government save Dr Govinda KC’s life. Dr KC has been staging his 16^th hunger strike since January 9 demanding revision in the National Medical Education Bill 2075 and fulfillment of the agreements reached with him in his 15^th fast-unto-death.

The NC stood from their respective seats as a symbol of protest as soon as the meeting began. Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara granted NC lawmaker Dr Minendra Rijal time to express his view after NC lawmakers stood up in protest.

Lawmaker Rijal said accused the government of passing the Bill incorrectly and demanded it revise its decision.

The government, who boast two-third majority in the house, forced the Bill amid strong resistance from the opposition NC and endorsed it through the parliament.

Rijal also drew the government’s attention toward ailing Dr KC and demanded the government take initiatives immediately to save his life.

According to Rijal the government is misreading its ‘majority’ as ‘pride and the ability do anything and argued that it will be self-destructive.

He also asked why the contribution of late NC leaders Girija Prasad Koirala and Sushil Koirala has been forgotten by the government not keeping the hospitals named after the two leaders under the federal government.

He referred to lack of policy to operate two hospitals named after two late NC leaders Girija Prasad and Sushil–GP Koirala National Centre for Respiratory Diseases in Tanahun and Sushil Koirala Prakhar Cancer Hospital in Banke.

Following Dr Rijal’s statement, the lawmakers continued to protest. Speaker Mahara adjourned the meeting till February 3.

KAHTMANDU, Jan 28: Doctors associated with Nepal Medical Association has started relay hunger strike at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital premises on Monday, to pressure the government to initiate talks with with agitating Dr Govinda KC and save his life.

Dr KC has been staging 16^th hunger strike since January 9 in demanding the government revise the National Medical Education Bill as per the agreement reached with him on July 26 last year.

A meeting of the House of Representatives held on Friday has already endorsed the Bill with majority. However, National Assembly could not pass the Bill table earlier today following protest from the Nepali Congress lawmakers.

KATHMANDU, Jan 27: Minister for Education, Science and Technology Giriraj Mani Pokharel has urged Dr Govinda KC to end his hunger strike and cooperate with the government.

Senior orthopedic surgeon Dr KC has been stating 16^th fast-unto-death at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital since January 9. He has accused the government of preparing the National Medical Education Bill breaching the agreement reached with him on July 26 last year.

The government on Friday forced the Bill into the parliament and endorsed it with majority amid stiff resistance from the main opposition party Nepali Congress. Dr KC has said that he won’t end hunger strike unless the government accommodates all his demands in the Bill.

“I have already told him that I am ready to hold talks to resolve the problem related to education sector. I honor Dr KC for his efforts in bringing reforms in medical education sector,” said Minister Pokharel at an interaction program organized by Reporters’ Club Nepal on Sunday.

“I don’t understand why he has brought a number of political issues in his struggle. He is ailing and I believe he can’t even write all his statements. But the issues related to home administration which he has raised, has only weakened his position. I request him to end hunger strike and cooperate us to create a new environment. Only pointing toward government can’t save his life. His life is also the responsibility of people around him as well.”

“I assure him that the government is still ready to hold conversation,” he added.

Minister Pokharel further said that the Bill will be presented in the National Assembly tomorrow for further approval.

“The federal parliament has endorsed the Medical Education Bill 2075. It will be presented at the National Assembly as agenda tomorrow. The members of the National Assembly can propose amendments in the bill. After the both the house passes the bill, the president will authenticate the bill and it will become a law,” said the education minister.

Minister Pokharel expressed his belief that the Bill, after it becomes law, will bring drastic changes in the medical education sector.

“The bill has included all the 42 disciplines of the medical education and has included the basis aspects of all the agreements reached with Dr KC till now.”

“It is one of the greatest achievements in the education sector of the country,” he added.

He also claimed that the commission was formed based on the report presented by Mathema report, which has combined all the universities, academies, councils and stake holders.”

KATHMANDU, Jan 27: Nepal Communist Party (NCP) leader Khagraj Adhikari Sunday clarified that there is no chance the government is negotiating with agitating Dr Govinda KC since the National Medical Education Bill was already endorsed in the parliament.

The government on Friday bulldozed the controversial Medical Education Bill through strong opposition resistance and endorsed it with two-third majority.

Senior orthopedic surgeon Dr KC, who is on his 16^th hunger strike since January 9, has asked Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli to step down on moral basis as the government did not implement the agreement signed at the prime minister’s own initiative. KC has said he will not end his fast-unto-death unless the government addresses his demands.

Supporters of Dr KC have hit the streets protesting the government’s move and demanding to save life of ailing KC. The police have has already arrested more than 50 protesters.

“We brought Dr KC to Kathmandu from Ilam to save his life,” former health minister Adhikari told Reporters’ Club Nepal.

“The Bill has already been approved at the parliament. Thus, there is no possibility of negotiation with Dr KC,” he added.

“The new Bill will bring many positive changes in the medical education sector,” he claimed adding, “This is going to bump all the medical mafias.”

Meanwhile, opposition Nepali Congress has slammed the government’s move at the parliament as inclination toward authoritarianism and against the spirit of democracy and warned nationwide protest against the government.

Adhikari said that the government will hold talk and come to an agreement with the NC.

However, the ruling NCP has insisted that the Bill was passed in line with the parliamentary practice and process. The NCP leaders has also requested Dr KC to end his hunger strike.

KATHMANDU, Jan 21: The meeting of the House of Representatives has been adjourned following the protest from the Nepali Congress.

The government has been preparing to table the New Medical Education Bill for the endorsement at the meeting today. But the NC lawmakers strongly criticized the government’s preparation and demanded the Bill should include all the agreements reached with Dr Govinda KC.

Arthopaedic surgeon Dr KC has been staging hunger strike demanding reforms in medical sector for the past two weeks. He began his 16th hunger strike on January 9 after the Education and Health Committee of the legislature parliament endorsed the report on Medical Education Bill against the agreement forged between Dr KC and the government on July 26 last year.

NC Parliamentary Party deputy leader Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar, speaking at the parliament, demanded a correction in the Bill insisting that the Bill should not be tabled with accommodating all the demands of Dr KC.

Following the obstruction, the Speaker adjourned the House of Representatives meeting.

Earlier this morning, the opposition party had obstructed the meeting of the National Assembly as well, expressing concern over the government apathy to operate the hospitals established in commemoration of party prominent leaders the late Girija Prasad Koirala and Sushil Koirala.

Govt preparing to pass New Medical Education Bill today

Govt has addressed almost all the demands of Dr KC: State Minister Yadav

KATHMANDU, Jan 21: The government is preparing to endorse the New Medical Education Bill at the parliament on Monday amid strong opposition from Nepali Congress party and medical associations.

Nepal Communist Party leader Yogesh Bhattarai told Reporters Club Nepal that the Bill will be tabled at the parliament meeting today.

However the government has been neglecting Dr KC’s demands insisting that the new Bill has addressed all the demands put by agitating Dr KC.

“The bill will be presented at the meeting accommodating all the demands of Dr KC,” said Bhattarai.

Arthopaedic surgeon Dr Govinda KC has been staging hunger strike demanding reforms in medical sector for the past two weeks. He began his 16^th hunger strike on January 9 after the Education and Health Committee of the legislature parliament endorsed the report on Medical Education Bill against the agreement forged between Dr KC and the government on July 26 last year.

The government and Dr KC reached had reached a deal to bring Medical Education Act, open government medical colleges in all seven provinces and make the health education and services easily accessible for ordinary people.

But, the July 9 report paved way for the B & C Medical College and Manmohan Medical College to operate and made a provision that would grant affiliation to medical colleges outside the valley which is against the agreement that bars Tribhuvan and Kathmandu University from granting affiliation to more than five medical colleges. It also ignores the Mathema report, mentioning deadline to phase out CTEVT intermediate levels of medical education, and opening a new medical university.

The main opposition party Nepal congress has expressed serious concerns over the government’s indifference to Dr KC’s demands and warned the government not to underestimate the protest. The opposition party has accused NCP Chair K P Sharma Oli led government of bring the new Bill disregarding the demands of Dr KC, and has warned to obstruct the government’s plan.

Meanwhile, National Resident Doctors Association (NRDA) and Nepal Medical Association (NMA) have warned strong protest to pressure the government to implement the agreement signed with Dr KC. The NRDA and NMA has asserted that the new Bill has been introduced against the past agreements.

National Resident Doctors Association (NRDA) and the Nepal Medical Association (NMA) have warned of strong protests to pressure the government to fulfill Dr Govinda KC’s demands.

House of Representatives meeting adjourned after NC protest

Govt has addressed almost all the demands of Dr KC: State Minister Yadav