By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Oct. 5: Resident doctors of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), Bir Hospital and BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences have started suspending all health services except for emergency and COVID-19 related for two hours a day from Sunday to express their solidarity with agitating Dr. Govinda KC.
Resident doctors had been demanding that the government address the demands of Dr. KC since he started staging his 19th hunger strike. They have also been protesting against the lack of concern from the government by wearing black bands on their hands for the past couple of days.
The doctors had also been warning authorities to take stern steps if Dr. KC’s demands were not addressed.
Since there was no step taken by the authorities in ending the hunger strike, Nepal Resident Doctors Association of TUTH, Residents’ Association of NAMS of Bir Hospital and Junior Resident Welfare Society of BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences issued a press statement on Saturday announcing that they would launch a protest from Sunday.
As per the statement, doctors would suspend all the services, except for emergency and COVID-19 cases, for two hours a day.
Speaking at the protest organised at the TUTH on Sunday, resident doctors said they would continue their protest and would intensify it if the government did not address Dr. KC’s demands soon.
According to the aides to Dr. KC, who is in his 21st day of the 19th hunger strike, his health situation has been deteriorating every day.
“Dr. KC has difficulties in breathing today due to which he has been kept under oxygen support from today. He is growing weak every day but denies accepting any form of other medications,” said Pritam Subedi, an aide to Dr. KC.
Issuing a press statement on Wednesday, the Nepal Medical Association (NMA) had also demanded that the government form a talks team to address the demands, come to an agreement and save Dr. KC’s life.
“Nepal Medical Association will take stern steps to save life of Dr. KC. We are ready to facilitate talks with Dr. KC if the government comes forward,” read the statement issued by the NMA.
On October 1, government spokesperson and Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali had requested Dr. KC to end his hunger strike while making public the Cabinet decisions.
“The government has already addressed most of Dr. KC’s demands. If any of them are yet to be met, we can discuss them after the pandemic comes under control,” said Gyawali.
However, Dr. KC denied the request and has been continuing the hunger strike.
“The government has not shown willingness to talk to Dr. KC other than Minister Gyawali’s request while making public the Cabinet decision. The government neither shows proper concern toward Dr. KC nor does it implement the earlier agreements signed with him,” said Subedi.
Dr. KC has said he would continue the hunger strike until the government addressed his demands.