Kathmandu, July 15
Sources close to the ruling Nepal Communist Party say the government is likely to form an official team on Sunday to hold talks with medical education reform activist Dr Govinda KC, who has been staging a fast-unto-death in Jumla of Karnali demanding various reforms in Nepal’s medical education sector.
It has already been 16 days since the senior orthopaedic surgeon at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital launched the strike. However, no official efforts have been made yet to resolve the issue.
As a preparation to convince Dr KC for the talks, NCP leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha has begun conversations with his aides including Dr Abhishek Raj Singh.
Shrestha has been telling Singh that Dr KC must come back to Kathmandu for his treatment as there are no ICU facilities in Jumla and his health is ever worsening. Dr Singh, however, says the government should make sincere efforts for that.
They have not begun discussions on demands of Dr KC and the two sides are adamant on their opposing stances till now.
Notwithstanding the progress made in the talks between Shrestha and Dr Singh, the government will announce a team for the talks today. At first, it will request Dr KC to end his strike, come to Kathmandu and join the talks table.
If that strategy does not work, the government is preparing to use force to take him back to Kathmandu and provide treatment, Education Minister Giriraj Mani Pokharel has already revealed.
