Even as Govinda KC's fast-unto-death entered its 20th day on Friday, the government has not shown flexibility in addressing his demands to reform medical education in Nepal.
Education Secretary Shanta Bahadur Shrestha and Health Secretary Senendra Raj Uprety negotiated with KC's representatives until late Thursday night. But KC refused to call off his hunger strike, saying the government did not show concern about addressing the chief demand of sacking the Dean of the Institute of Medicine.
Jeevan Chhetri, one of KC's representatives, has said that the government has not shown genuine concerns to save KC's life. "The government is just waiting for KC to give up," he told journalists.
On Friday, doctors at government hospitals across the country refused to work, except in emergency wards, pressing the government to save KC's life. Doctors working at private hospitals also halted services at out-patient departments for two hours on Friday.
Meanwhile, an alliance of doctors, rights activists and civil society members is planning a rally in Kathmandu to exert pressure on the government to address KC's demands. The alliance has urged people to participate in the rally, which will begin from Maitighar, Kathmandu at 11 am Saturday.
KC has been on an indefinite hunger strike since 13 November, pressing the government to address his five demands, most importantly appointment of the senior-most professor as the dean of the Institute of Medicine.
This is the tenth time KC has been on a hunger strike demanding reforms in medical education sector. This time, he announced hunger strike after the Tribhuvan University (TU) Vice Chancellor Tirtha Khaniya appointed a junior professor as the IoM dean.