Medical education reform activist Dr Govinda KC has issued an ultimatum to the government, demanding the immediate full operation of the Geta Teaching Hospital in Kailali, built at a cost of approximately Rs 7 billion. Dr KC warned of renewed hunger strikes (Satyagraha) and strong protests if the government fails to implement past agreements and address what he calls the “mafia’s institutional capture” of public health and medical education.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Dr KC accused the government of obstructing the operation of the fully-equipped Geta Teaching Hospital, which was built with taxpayers’ money, while simultaneously promoting private colleges lacking proper infrastructure. He specifically criticised the Medical Education Commission, Nepal’s body regulating medical education, for accepting “phantom faculty” from private colleges as academic staff for Shahid Dashrath Chand Medical University.
Dr KC’s three-point demands
Dr KC’s three-point demands include:
- Immediate full operation of Geta Teaching Hospital: The hospital should be operated at full capacity as per previous agreements, without any excuses. All illegal decisions, including those to establish teaching hospitals without infrastructure and to create “phantom faculty,” must be revoked.
- Full implementation of the seven-point agreement reached with the government on Saun 11 (BS) during his 24th Satyagraha. This includes:
- Dismissal of unqualified officials and amendment of the Act: Immediately remove unqualified officials from medical universities and the Medical Education Commission who were appointed to serve the interests of the “mafia.” The disputed clauses of the Shahid Dashrath Chand Medical University Act must be amended without delay.
- Implementation of past agreements: All agreements made with previous governments, including making medical education completely non-profit from 2085 (BS) and reversing incorrect decisions regarding scholarship cuts or seat increases, must be implemented within the stipulated timeframe.
Allegations of ‘mafia’ influence
Dr KC alleged that officials of the Medical Education Commission and the university have openly become “accomplices of the mafia.” He claimed there is a conspiracy to establish institutional control over public health and medical education by appointing unqualified, conflicted, and corrupt “mafia partners” to high positions in medical universities and the Commission. He deplored that those who came to power with slogans of public welfare and good governance are now direct partners in the “despicable game of the mafia and vested interest groups.”
Geta Hospital: Rs 7 billion investment, limited services
The Geta Teaching Hospital, located in Godawari Municipality-5, Kailali, is part of the Shahid Dashrath Chand Health Science University, Nepal’s first public health science university. The initiative to establish a government-owned medical college in Geta began in 2065 (BS), with 77 bighas of land allocated. Construction of physical infrastructure started in 2070-71 (BS), and approximately Rs 7 billion has been invested in building 28 modern structures.
Despite the significant investment, these structures began to deteriorate by Falgun 20, 2081 (March 4, 2025), due to a lack of operation and maintenance. Currently, the Geta Hospital only provides Outpatient Department (OPD) services due to insufficient infrastructure and human resources. However, as of Asoj 13 (September 30, 2026), it is expected that a 300-bed hospital will become operational within the current fiscal year. The government decided to establish and operate the Shahid Dashrath Chand National Health Science University in Geta, Kailali, on Magh 29, 2080 (February 12, 2024). The Shahid Dashrath Chand Health Science University Act, 2080 (BS), was passed by the House of Representatives and the National Assembly, the upper house of parliament, and authenticated by President Ramchandra Paudel. The Geta Hospital was approved to operate as a teaching hospital on Asar 24, 2083 (July 8, 2026), and by Saun 1, 2083 (July 15, 2026), it was affiliated with the university.
Government’s silence on ultimatum
Dr KC has been campaigning for medical education reform for over a decade, with his first Satyagraha beginning on Asar 21, 2069 (July 5, 2012). His latest hunger strike in Dhangadhi concluded on Saun 11, 2083 (July 27, 2026), with a seven-point agreement with the government. This agreement included operating the Shahid Dashrath Chand Health Science University in Kailali at full capacity, including at least a 300-bed teaching hospital, managing necessary human resources and equipment, amending the university-related Act, and making medical education non-profit. The government had committed to implementing this agreement within two to three months.
However, Dr KC stated that none of the agreement points have been implemented, accusing the government and “mafia accomplices” of breaking the agreement. He warned that the government and these accomplices would be responsible for any serious situation arising from renewed Satyagraha and protests. On Asar 2, 2083 (June 16, 2026), a meeting of the Medical Education Commission, chaired by Prime Minister Balen Shah, approved the Scholarship Grant Procedure, 2083 (BS). Despite the government’s commitment to implement the Saun 11 (BS) agreement within two to three months, there has been no official response to Dr KC’s ultimatum issued on Asoj 15 (BS).
What’s next and open questions
Dr KC has warned of renewed hunger strikes (Satyagraha) and strong protests if his demands are not met. Detailed information regarding the specific “mafia private colleges,” “unqualified officials,” and the “disputed clauses” of the Shahid Dashrath Chand Medical University Act mentioned by Dr KC is not yet publicly available. Similarly, the specifics of the “wrong decisions” regarding scholarship cuts or seat increases are not detailed, though discussions about reducing the financial burden of scholarships and increasing seats have been reported.
