Kathmandu, July 27
A day after breaking his 16-day hunger strike meant to press the government for reforms in Nepal’s medical sector, including medical education, Dr Govinda KC said he will give continuity to his protest unless and until the government initiates action against Lok Man Singh Karki, Chief Commissioner, Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority, for his involvement in corruption.
Dr KC, orthopaedic surgeon at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, said he will continue his fight against corrupt practices in the public health sector.
He said: “Health and education sectors should always be service-oriented. But here people are taking it as a profit-making business.”
“My fight is against the corrupt, my fight is against corruption. I will continue this fight till my body allows it,” he said while receiving treatment at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. Noting that the government has promised to address his demands, Dr KC said it’s time the government walked the talk.
Dr KC noted: More than 80 per cent of Nepal’s population does not have access to health facilities. Despite such a scenario, more than 12 medical colleges in the Kathmandu Valley are waiting for a go-ahead from the government to start their operations.
On the contrary, he said, people from Dang, a district in Mid-Western Nepal, and other districts do not have health institutions. They have to visit India, Kathmandu or Nepalgunj for treatment.
“If medical colleges are established in these places, bright students from remote villages will get an opportunity to study medical sciences on merit basis. This will make health services available to local people,” he explained.
