KATHMANDU: Negotiations between the Nepal government and hunger-striking senior orthopedic surgeon Dr. Govinda KC ended without a breakthrough on Sunday after both sides failed to agree on two of his key demands.
The talks, which began at 2:00 p.m. and continued until 11:00 p.m., concluded without a consensus. The two sides are scheduled to resume negotiations at 10:00 a.m. on Monday in an effort to break the deadlock.
According to sources involved in the discussions, the government delegation refused to accept Dr. KC’s demands to revoke appointments made at Shaheed Dasharath Chand Health Sciences University and to immediately enforce legal provisions under the National Medical Education Act requiring medical education institutions to operate on a fully non-profit basis.
The meeting was held at the office of Hemraj Pandey, Medical Superintendent of Seti Provincial Hospital. Representing the government were Prime Minister’s Health Advisor Dr. J.P. Agrawal, Health Secretary Dr. Bikash Devkota, and Education Secretary Chudamani Paudel. Dr. KC’s team was represented by Dr. Pawan Thapa and Dr. Amrit Jaisi.
Dr. KC began his indefinite hunger strike on Thursday, demanding the cancellation of appointments at Shaheed Dasharath Chand Health Sciences University, the withdrawal of decisions to reduce medical scholarships through the Medical Education Commission and increase student seats at private medical colleges that lack the required infrastructure and standards, the immediate implementation of legal provisions mandating non-profit medical education, and the execution of previous written agreements reached with successive governments.
In addition to reforms in the medical education sector, Dr. KC has called on the government to prioritize the expansion of healthcare, education, transportation, and employment opportunities in Sudurpashchim and other border regions so that residents are no longer compelled to depend on neighboring countries for essential services. He has also demanded strict action against those responsible for the killings, arson, looting, and destruction that took place on Bhadra 23 and 24, 2081 (September 2024), as well as an independent investigation into corruption and criminal offenses allegedly committed by senior politicians and public officials since the restoration of democracy in 1990 (2046 BS).
With no agreement reached after nearly nine hours of negotiations, Dr. KC’s hunger strike continues, while both sides remain hopeful that Monday’s talks will produce a resolution.
