KATHMANDU, Oct 16:  The condition of Dr Govinda KC, professor at the Institute of Medicine (IOM) who is on a fast-unto-death since October 5 demanding reforms in medical education, has been deteriorating to a critical stage on the 11th day of the hunger strike on Sunday.

According to the doctors and health workers attending to him, Dr KC's health condition is fast deteriorating. "Micro-elements in his blood are decreasing gradually and it can stop the body functions," they said.

Dr KC has developed acute weakness, headache, chest pain, dizzying, sweating and muscle cramps with unstable heartbeats, according to the doctors. "The quantities of albumin, calcium and protein in his blood have dropped below the minimum," they said. "Low level of calcium in blood directly affects the functioning of the heart and this is dangerous."
 
He is being administered saline solution occasionally and oxygen regularly. "Now we feel that he might need DC shocks to treat arrhythmia," said the doctors involved in his treatment. "We have already managed the emergency intervention that may need anytime."

Dr KC is on 13th fast-unto-death demanding among other things a new medical education act as per the recommendation of the Mathema taskforce. He had started his first fast-unto-death in July 2012.
 
With the dissolution of parliament Saturday, the possibility of bringing the act demanded by Dr KC is remote. Now the government can bring such act only through an ordinance. On Friday, the government had attempted to table the bill in parliament but could not do so after objection by the CPN-UML and the CPN (Maoist Center).

 
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