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By Our Reporter 

 Dr Govinda KC has ended the 19th hunger strike on the 28th day of the fast-unto-death, following an eight-point agreement with the government on Saturday midnight. 

The government that undermined the strike for the initial days rushed to end the strike after KC continued it for over 25 days and his health deteriorated.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli who had been biased towards Dr KC since long, had to form a three-member committee led by Education Secretary Gopinath Mainali to hold dialogues with Dr KC. The other members in the committee were Joint Secretary at the Health Ministry Dr Guna Raj Lohani and Director at the Medical Education Commission Dr Dilip Sharma.

However, for two days the committee failed to reach an agreement, prompting PM Oli to send his personal doctor Divya Singh Shah to interfere and strike the deal. 

Dr Shah had also succeeded to end Dr KC’s earlier strike.  

 

Dr KC’s team included Dr Jeewan Kshetry, Om Prakash Aryal, Dr Lochan Karki and Dr.Anjani Kumar Jha.

The government had to bow before Dr KC’s demands after doctors from across the country decided to shut down all services except for emergency and COVID-19 related cases.

A meeting between the two teams on Saturday midnight reached an eight-point agreement at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. Dr KC then agreed to end his hunger strike at 9:30 on Sunday morning.

 

Based on the agreement signed by Dr KC and Mainali, Dr KC ended his hunger strike on Sunday by drinking juice offered by Bikas Nepali, an employee at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital.

 

As per the agreement reached between Dr KC and the government, Karnali Academy of Health Sciences will begin MBBS and other medical courses from the upcoming academic session.

 

Similarly, the government has agreed to complete the necessary construction of infrastructures, prepare manpower and begin medical courses at Geta Medical College, Bardibas Medical College, Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences and Rapti Academy of Health Sciences before February 22, 2024.

 

Regarding the construction of government medical colleges in Doti or Dadeldhura, Udaypur and Ilam or Panchthar, a feasibility study has been completed and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology will begin another necessary process within a year.

 

The government also agreed to expand the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test.

The appointment of officials in universities and academies is said to be conducted transparently and fairly for which legal regulations are being formulated. Until then the appointments will be made based on seniority and capability.

 

Dr KC’s demand related to amendments to the Medical Education Act is said to be carried out by the commission itself as per the government’s agreement with Dr KC on July 26, 2018. 

The government has also agreed to help concerned authorities in addressing other demands including action against individuals involved in several corruption scandals.

Dr KC’s team has, however, warned to take similar steps if the authorities failed to abide by the agreement like in earlier days.

Meanwhile, the main opposition Nepali Congress on Sunday welcomed the pact inked between the government and Dr Govinda KC.

The NC congratulated all who were involved in the protest and supported Dr KC’s cause from aboard and across the country.

NC spokesperson Bishwa Prakash Sharma in a statement suspected the implementation of the agreement as the past agreement inked under the initiation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was not implemented. 

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