Doctor’s hunger strike cripples health services across Nepal

Health services across Nepal remained affected on Wednesday due to a strike called by doctors in support of a senior colleague who is on fast seeking overhaul of the medical education sector.

Updated on: Apr 2, 2015, 24:03:33 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Health services across Nepal remained affected on Wednesday due to a strike called by doctors in support of a senior colleague who is on fast seeking overhaul of the medical education sector.

Out-patient departments (OPDs) of all government hospitals and several private hospitals remained closed and only emergency services were allowed to function by the Nepal Medical Association (NMA). The strike has affected thousands of patients at establishments like Bir Hospital in Kathmandu and the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan in eastern Nepal.

Doctor’s associated with NMA have vowed to continue the strike till the government agrees to the demands of Dr Govinda KC, a senior orthopedic surgeon and teacher at the government-run Institute of Medicine (IOM).

KC has been on hunger strike since March 22 in protest against political interference in the health sector and the alleged irregularities in granting of affiliation to private medical colleges.

Despite several rounds of meetings between the doctor, government ministers and officials there has been no agreement on all his demands. His condition is stated to be critical. This is the fifth time the senior doctor has resorted to hunger strike.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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