KATHMANDU: Intern doctor Dilli Harijan began an indefinite hunger strike at Maitighar Mandala on Tuesday, demanding the implementation of long-standing reforms, including fair remuneration and recognition of interns’ labour.
Harijan said he launched the protest at 10:25 a.m. after nearly four months of unsuccessful dialogue with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, the Medical Education Commission (MEC), lawmakers and other authorities.
He urged the government to immediately implement the recommendations of a task force chaired by the Minister for Education, Science and Technology, stressing that intern doctors are seeking only equal pay for equal work and enforcement of the panel’s recommendations.
Harijan also questioned whether pressure from private medical colleges had delayed a decision, leaving the future of thousands of intern doctors and medical students uncertain.
He called on senior doctors, the Nepal Medical Association (NMA), the Nepal Medical Council (NMC), MBBS and BDS interns, medical students, the media and the public to support the movement.
The protest adds to ongoing unrest in Nepal’s health sector. Nurse Jyoti Ranabhat has been on a hunger strike for six days, while Dr Govinda KC ended his fast only last week.
