MBBS students of the Institute of Medicine today submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, urging him and concerned bodies to immediately address the demands put forth by Dr Govinda KC, who is on a hunger strike since Sunday. Dr KC began his fifth hunger strike on Sunday with his 10-point demand, which he says the government has failed to address.

More than 150 MBBS students today reached Prime Minister Koirala’s official residence in Baluwatar and submitted the memorandum.

They also staged a brief sit-in at Baluwatar before handing over the memorandum to Prime Minister Koirala’s Personal Administrative Officer Dayanidhi Dawadi. In the evening, the students observed a candle light vigil on the premises of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in support of Dr KC. We will continue our sit-ins in future also, said an IoM student.

Expressing solidarity with Dr KC and his demands, MBBS students have halted academic activities at IoM. “We will continue to obstruct all academic activities at IoM until the demands put forth by Dr KC are addressed,” said the students. Resident doctors of TUTH have started wearing black bands at work to express solidarity with DR KC.

Kathmandu University Professors’ Association too has extended its support to Dr KC. “As all the 10 demands put forth by Dr KC are reasonable and significant, we express our support to Dr KC,” KUPA chairperson Dr Bibhuti Ranjan Jha said in a statement. Stating that some of the demands raised by Dr KC are also related to Kathmandu University, Jha said KU officials involved in granting affiliation to some private colleges illegally should be booked.

KUPA has also urged the government to address Dr KC’s demands at the earliest.

The Resident Association of National Academy of Medical Sciences too has expressed solidarity with Dr KC. In a statement today, it warned of strict action if concerned bodies fail to address the demands.

Meanwhile, Tribhuvan University Executive Council officials today held a meeting to discuss Dr KC’s hunger strike. However, the meeting failed to make any decision.

Demands
> Strict action against officials involved in irregularities
> Action against Kathmandu University officials for granting affiliation to two medical college
> A new medical policy that prohibits affiliation to any medical college until it takes the shape of a university
> Policy to establish medical colleges in rural areas of the country
> Implementation of the decision of a committee that was formed to study the feasibility of medical university and standards of medical colleges
> Action against officials of Tribhuvan University and Nepal Medical Council who have compromised on quality of medical education

source: the himalayan times,26 March 2015