Kathmandu, Nov, 7: The government and medical reform activist Dr Govinda KC have reached a six-point agreement, ending his 25th hunger strike.
Education and Sports Minister Sasmit Pokharel visited Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital late Friday night and reached an agreement with KC following several rounds of negotiations.
Minister Pokharel said the government would implement the commitments made under the agreement, describing it as KC’s final hunger strike.
Under the agreement, the Shaheed Dasharath Chand University of Health Sciences will be granted permission to conduct MBBS and other academic programmes, with seat quotas determined in line with the Medical Education Commission’s decision of October 16.
The government has also agreed to form a five-member investigation committee, coordinated by Professor Dr Ramesh Prasad Acharya, to investigate whether the decision to increase MBBS seats at the Nepal Army Institute of Health Sciences complied with prescribed standards.
The committee will submit its report to the government. Student matching under the common medical entrance examination will proceed after the government implements the report’s recommendations.
The agreement further stipulates action against officials and individuals associated with the Medical Education Commission, universities and medical colleges if programme approvals or seat increases are found to have violated standards or involved conflicts of interest.
Similarly, the government will initiate amendments to the Shaheed Dasharath Chand University of Health Sciences Act, 2025, concerning the qualifications and appointment of university officials. The amendments will be advanced through an ordinance within two weeks.
The appointment process for new university officials will begin immediately after the ordinance is issued, incorporating suggestions made by Dr KC.
The government has also pledged to implement in full the remaining provisions of the agreement reached with KC on August 11 during his 24th hunger strike.
The agreement was signed by Dr KC, Minister Pokharel, Prime Minister’s Health Adviser Professor Dr Jagadish Agrawal, lawmaker Pukar Bam and Nepal Medical Association President Dr Badri Rijal.
