14th Strike

On 8 January 2018, after the Supreme Court’s reinstatement of Dr. Shashi Sharma as IOM Dean, Dr. K.C. began his 14th hunger strike.

Accusations

1. Accused Supreme Court of selling justice
2. Demanded resignation of Chief Justice Gopal Parajuli
3. Alleged Chief Justice as the mafia as he favored 7 for-profit private medical colleges
4. Arrested for contempt of court.
5. Accused CJ Parajuli of lobbying and securing a job for his nephew at the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) as the commission’s legal counselor following a SC decision in favour of the former CIAA chief commissioner Lokman Singh Karki
6. Inquired about the Chief Justice Gopal Parajuli’s citizenship and age
7. Reopened Dr. Shashi Sharma case

“I am not scared of dying and I am not scared of contempt of court punishment. My fight is against Gopal Parajuli, not other judges. If I have erred it was not a deliberate mistake, please forgive me.”

Dr. Govinda KC

DEMANDS

1. Chief Justice Gopal Parajuli should resign immediately. Thereafter, corruption investigation be started against him.
2. Form Medical Education Commission immediately.
3. IOM dean should be appointed on the basis of seniority. The reinstatement of the dean be scrapped.
4. Sack TU officials involved in issuing affiliation to medical colleges lacking the infrastructural requirements, those involved in snatching IOM’s rights and misusing the rights and those appointed on the quota of political parties.
5. Fulfill the following demands related to improving the condition of the TU Teaching Hospital:
   1. Since, TUTH is a government institution, the government should make arrangement to bear all the expenses related to hospital operation and educational expenses. Make 50 percent of the TUTH beds free-of-cost from the existing 10 percent. Make health services affordable and accessible to the common people, and provide free healthcare to all TUTH students, doctors and staffers just like in the past.
   2. Arrange new residence and hostel for the nurses and students, construct new college buildings including a new auditorium and exam hall. Make arrangement to open the library 24/7.
   3. Expand and properly manage the pharmacy at the hospital and ensure that all patients get quality medicines at cheaper rates. Increase the capacity of the emergency department to accommodate more patients, take action against middlemen who take patients to private hospitals in return for commissions from the hospitals and the hospitals using such middlemen.
   4. Increase the capacity and number of ICUs, NICUs, and operation theaters to serve more patients and reduce the queue for surgery. Also, in line with the constitution, ensure free emergency services to all.
   5. Make arrangements to ensure that doctors, nurses and staffers are promoted periodically on the basis of their eligibility and seniority. Stop unlawful appointments, promotions and granting of permanent status to those close to politicians and scrap such appointments, promotions and permanent status.
   6. Provide surgery among other services under the EHS [extended hospital service] system, which is being provided by charging extra.
   7. Build more toilets, manage equipment to maintain cleanliness at hospital and ensure that the operation of incinerator does not affect the patients.

ACHIEVEMENTS

1. To give full shape to the Medical Education Commission, which has been formed in line with Clause 5 of the Medical Education Ordinance, a recommendation committee will be formed as per the Ordinance’s Clause 23 within seven days from today [January 12, 2018, the day of agreement between the government and Dr KC’s team].
2. Based on the decision of the Supreme Court, the Tribhuvan University’s vice-chancellor will direct the authority concerned to continue Dr. Jagdish Prasad Agrawal as the dean of the Institute of Medicine (IOM).
3. Tribhuvan University’s vice-chancellor will take necessary steps as soon as possible to implement the previous agreements on restoring the IOM’s rights that were snatched away. TU senate will be summoned immediately in order to amend the TU regulations to restore IOM’s rights.
4. The government and the Ministry of Health will arrange necessary funds for improvement in the physical infrastructure of the TUTH, manpower management, and for expansion of hospital services.