By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Oct. 7: The Nepal Medical Association, a professional organisation of medical and dental doctors across Nepal, has warned the government of taking harsh steps if the authorities delayed in holding talks with Dr. Govinda KC.
Issuing a press-statement on Sunday, the Nepal Medical Association (NMA) had given a 72-hour ultimatum to the government for forming a talk team and holding talks with Dr. KC.
“If the government doesn’t form a talk committee in the next 72 hours and take no step in saving life of Dr. KC, the NMA will be forced to take any form of harsh steps. The serious situation that may arise by it will be the responsibility of Nepal government,” reads the statement.
Dr. KC is on the 23nd day of his 19th hunger strike demanding reforms in overall medical sector of the country in a bid to make it accessible to all Nepalis across the country.
For the past 23 days, Dr. KC has denied any form of treatment other than an oxygen support since October 4 as he had problems in breathing.
The NMA had given an ultimatum following deteriorating health condition of Dr. KC and zero concern from the authorities.
“Dr. KC is our lifelong member and the one who has staged hunger strikes for the betterment of medical sector. We will not tolerate if anything happens to him due to the delay by the government in addressing his demands,” said Dr. Badri Rijal, general-secretary of the NMA.
In the past hunger strikes of Dr. KC, the NMA and the doctors had come to the streets by halting all the services except for emergency in hospitals across the country.
“Dr. KC is old now but also staging a hunger strike for the public. Any delay in forming a talk committee will prolong Dr. KC’s hunger strike and further risk his health. We hope the government forms a talk committee within the ultimatum,” said Dr. Rijal.
With the ultimatum ending on Wednesday, the NMA will be conducting a meeting to come up with a series of plan of protest across the country.
“If the government really does not care about Dr. KC by fulfilling his demands which have only been for the betterment of public, we will begin protest from Thursday. We will be left no choice from the government,” Dr. Rijal added.
Doctors have been suspending all medical services except emergency in their past protests and will be performing similar protest without affecting emergency and COVID-19 related cases in the next few days.
“We will probably suspend services except for emergency and COVID-19 throughout the country. The protest will turn stern with the days passed,” said Dr. Rijal.
Resident doctors of major hospitals – Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Bir Hospital and BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences – have also been protesting at the health institutions demanding Dr. KC’s demands to be fulfilled.