Dr. Govinda KC, who has been staging fast-unto-death for the past 12 days demanding reforms in the country’s medical sector, has agreed to end his hunger strike after reaching an agreement with the government. Supporters of the fasting doctor said that KC will end the strike today itself as the government agreed to fulfill all of his demands. The draft of the agreement was read out before the fasting doctor by the government talk team and signed by Dr. KC, Chief Secretary Leela Mani Paudel, National Planning Commission Vice Chairman Dr. Govinda Pokharel, and Nepal Medical Association Chairman Dr. Anjani Kumar Jha. As per the deal, the government has agreed to form a commission in the next seven days under a former Appellate Court chief judge.

The commission will make recommendations of taking action against the Education Minister and officials for their involvement in granting medical affiliations from Kathmandu University. The government has also agreed to assess the capacity of medical colleges and de-affiliate colleges that are found below par. Likewise, affiliations to new medical colleges will be withheld until a medical education policy is formulated in the country. The deal also includes making MD/MS/DM/MCH courses free in government universities from the next fiscal year and establishing at least one medical college in every development region within the next five years. Meanwhile, the Nepal Medical Association, the umbrella organization of medical doctors, has withdrawn its decision to shut all the Out Patient Department (OPD) services. NMA had shut the services across the country’s hospital supporting Dr. KC’s demands and condemning the government’s apathy towards him. Thousands of patients across the country were hit hard due to the shut down in services.