A high-level meeting held at the Prime Minister's Office today failed to address the demands of Dr Govinda KC, who has been staging a fast-unto-death at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital since January 11 to press for the fulfilment of his demands.

Dr KC has been demanding the resignation of recently-appointed dean of the Institute of Medicine, Dr Shashi Sharma, and reinstatement of Dr Prakash Sayami as the IOM dean.

He is also against granting affiliation to four proposed medical colleges and is demanding the resignation of TU vice-chancellor, rector and registrar for their involvement in 'irregularities'.

Chairman Khil Raj Regmi, Health Minister Bidhyadhar Mallik, Education Minister Madhav Poudel ,TU VC Hira Bahadur Maharjan, Registrar Chandra Mani Poudel, Education Secretary Narayan Gopal Malego and PMO Secretary Raju Man Singh Malla attended today's meeting that saw Regmi urge stakeholders to resolve the crisis without delay. Problems that patients are facing due to the standoff at the IOM also figured in the meeting.

In a press release, the Ministry of Education said the current crisis can be resolved through internal discussions at the TU. Office-bearers of TU have pledged to hold talks with TUTH members, doctors and other stakeholders to end the crisis. The government has urged all health workers not to halt services because of the TUTH dispute.

The Nepali Congress today urged the government to fulfil reasonable demands of Dr KC. The party made the appeal at its Central Working Committee meeting.

Meanwhile, the medical team attending to Dr KC said it will shift him to the ICU if it observes any alarming signs. Dr KC's serum sodium level is high because of dehydration: He

has not taken water for the past three days. The team informed, "His oxygen level is maintained with 5 litre/minute via mask.”

Blood pressure is 110/80. Heart rate is 100 per minute and the rate of respiration is 24 per minute.

Published on: 18 January 2014 | The Himalayan Times