Kathmandu, October 5
Dr Dilli Harijan has begun his second hunger strike, saying that an agreement reached with the government to address the demands of interns and resident doctors has not been implemented.
Dr Harijan began the hunger strike on Monday at the office of the Medical Education Commission in Sanothimi, Bhaktapur. He had previously led protests over issues including working hours, stipends and safe working conditions for interns and resident doctors.
Following his previous hunger strike, the government had reached a five-point agreement with Dr Harijan. However, he has accused the government of failing to implement the agreement even after two months.
He said he was forced to resume the hunger strike after repeated requests for implementation received no response from the government.
Dr Harijan said interns and resident doctors are still working under extremely difficult conditions. He said being required to work continuously for up to 36 hours could affect doctors’ health and performance, as well as the quality of patient care.
“It is unfortunate that despite repeatedly raising concerns about doctors’ working hours, stipends, safe working conditions and other legitimate issues, there has been no expected improvement,” he said.
He has called for an end to the practice of making interns and resident doctors work for long hours without providing appropriate facilities, safety and due recognition of their labour. He said it is the state’s responsibility to ensure that doctors can work in a safe and dignified environment.
Dr Harijan said they had already adopted democratic and peaceful means, ranging from street protests to raising the issue in parliament and from dialogue to hunger strikes, to have their demands addressed. However, he said the problem has persisted because repeated commitments have not been implemented in practice.
He urged the government to implement the agreement and immediately address the legitimate demands of interns and resident doctors. He said the issues he has raised are not personal but concern the working conditions and rights of interns and resident doctors across the country.
He said he would continue the hunger strike until his demands are fulfilled.
