DHANGADHI: Negotiation teams representing Professor Dr Govinda KC and the government have prepared a draft eight-point agreement following fresh talks aimed at ending the veteran doctor’s ongoing hunger strike.
The draft was finalised during negotiations on Monday after both sides failed to reach an agreement on Sunday. It has been sent to Prime Minister Balendra Shah and Education and Sports Minister Sasmit Pokharel for approval.
Dr Amrit Jaisi, a member of Dr KC’s negotiating team, said the government side was awaiting a response from Kathmandu. He said the two sides had reached a broad understanding, although some provisions of the eight-point draft could still be revised before it is signed.
According to the draft, the government has agreed to begin operating a 300-bed hospital under Shahid Dasharath Chand Health Sciences University within the current fiscal year and to launch the university’s MBBS programme during the same period.
The proposed agreement also includes provisions to remove Registrar Dr Bhim Bahadur Chand from office while retaining Vice-Chancellor Dr Sunil Kumar Joshi, along with amendments to legal provisions relating to conflicts of interest.
Dr KC has been on a hunger strike in Dhangadhi, demanding the implementation of five key demands. These include enforcing the National Medical Education Act to ensure medical education operates on a fully non-profit basis, cancelling the appointments of the university’s vice-chancellor and registrar, revoking decisions to reduce scholarships and increase seats in private medical colleges without adequate infrastructure or standards, taking action against those responsible for killings, arson and looting during the Gen-Z movement, and conducting impartial investigations into corruption and alleged crimes involving senior political leaders and public officials since 1990.
The government negotiating team comprises Prime Minister’s Health Adviser Dr JP Agrawal, Health and Food Safety Ministry Secretary Dr Bikash Devkota, and Education Secretary Chudamani Paudel.
Dr KC’s side is represented by Dr Pawan Thapa and Dr Amrit Jaisi.
Dr KC began his hunger strike in Dhangadhi on Shrawan 7 after claiming that the government had failed to address his demands by the deadline of Shrawan 5. He initially staged the protest at the Krishna Mandir Dharamshala before being transferred to the intensive care unit of Seti Provincial Hospital on Saturday after his health deteriorated.
His team said he will end the hunger strike only after the agreement is formally signed.
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