Within two weeks of ending his 14-day hunger strike, Dr Govinda KC has again begun a fast-unto-death again from Saturday afternoon. This is the fourth time that he is staging a hunger strike against political interference at the Institute of Medicine (IoM).

Addressing media persons at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) before starting his latest hunger strike, Dr KC said that he is compelled to resume the strike as the authorities concerned have shown total indifference toward implementing the agreements signed with him recently.

"I think they forgot about the agreement the moment I sipped juice," he said. "The government and TU officials do not seem sincere about the commitments they gave to make me end my earlier protest."

Dr KC at TUTH on Saturday.

The five-point demand he forwarded included removal of Tribhuvan University (TU) office bearers such as the vice-chancellor, rector and registrar who, according to him, are corrupt and had colluded with the medical mafia. His other demands are reinstatement of former IoM dean Prakash Sayami, the appointment of a new dean on the basis of seniority, and stern action against IOM officials found guilty by an earlier investigation. He also demanded the establishment of government medical colleges in the rural areas of the country.

"If he (former dean Sayami) is not interested, a new dean should be appointed on the basis of seniority," said Dr KC. He said that he will not tolerate procrastination and political interference in medical institutions, including at IoM.

Earlier, in the morning, Dr KC had met President Rambaran Yadav to inform him about his fresh hunger strike. Dr KC had given the authorities until Friday evening to implement the commitments made by the government.

To end his earlier hunger strike, the government had agreed to conduct a feasibility study for transforming IoM into an independent medical university and formulating a national policy on granting affiliations to new medical colleges.

Dr Bhagwan Koirala´s resignation accepted

Meanwhile, a meeting of the TU executive council held on Saturday has accepted the resignation tendered by Professor Bhagwan Koirala. Dr Koirala, director of TUTH, resigned from his post on Friday, citing lack of a favorable environment for running the hospital smoothly, and also personal reasons.

TU registrar Chandramani Poudel confirmed that the executive council has accepted Dr Koirala´s resignation.

"We have accepted his resignation tendered on Friday," Poudel said. Dr Koirala was moved to give up his post due to the hunger strike launched by Dr KC and the disruption in the treatment of patients.

Registrar Poudel said that the committee will appoint a new dean after the committee formed to search for a dean submits its report. "We will appoint a new dean immediately after the committee submits its report," he said.

source: republica,9 feb 2014