Govinda KC breaks his fast by drinking juice offered by a TUTH patient. Pic: Bikram RaiGovinda KC ended his eighth fast-unto-death on his 16th day, following a 4-point agreement with the government.
He drank a glass of juice offered by patients at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital to break his fast, and said that all should unite to end the existing institutional mafia in Nepal’s medical sector.
In a meeting between the government team and KC's representatives on Sunday, it was agreed that the properties of Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences will be purchased by the National Academy of Medical Sciences (Bir Hospital). The government will provide grants to Bir Hospital for this to take place, and the hospital will run extended programs under the same Manmohan name.
Both sides concurred that the government does not need to take action to impeach the Chief of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), Lokman Singh Karki — which had been one of KC's demands — stating the issue falls under the jurisdiction of the Parliament, where a parliamentary committee is looking into the matter.
The negotiators also agreed to amend the Health Profession Education Commission Bill: allocating up to 75 per cent of scholarships in government-owned medical colleges, establishing at least one medical college in all provinces, and prohibiting the opening of new medical colleges in Kathmandu for the next 10 years.
It was also decided that previous agreements would be implemented, such as the formation of a commission to regulate the MBBS medical entrance exams, and to determine the seat allocations and fees for the medical colleges.
Secretary at the Health Ministry Senendra Raj Uprety, who led the government team, was also present at the TUTH when KC called off his fast.