Sonam Wangchuk Stable but Requires Close Monitoring, Hospital Says; Personal Doctor Raises Concerns
New Delhi: Activist Sonam Wangchuk remains in stable condition but needs sustained medical intervention and continuous monitoring after his prolonged hunger strike, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital said on Sunday in a health update.
Wangchuk was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital on Saturday after Delhi Police removed him from the protest site at Jantar Mantar, citing medical advice and directions of the Delhi High Court. He had been on an indefinite hunger strike demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in national examinations, including the NEET paper leak case.
In a health bulletin, the hospital stated that Wangchuk's vital parameters are currently stable, though some blood parameters remain "marginally altered" due to the physiological stress and systemic effects of extended fasting.
"Shri Sonam Wangchuk is being given the required medical intervention at VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital. His vital parameters are stable at present; however, his blood parameters remain marginally altered, and considering the physiological stress and systemic effects of prolonged fasting, he requires continuous medical care under the close observation of a multidisciplinary team of experts," the bulletin stated.
The hospital added that sustained medical treatment and 24-hour clinical observation are necessary to promptly identify and manage any complications that may develop. The treating teams from Safdarjung Hospital and AIIMS, New Delhi, concurred on the need for round-the-clock monitoring.
However, Wangchuk's personal physician, Dr. Nitin Dighe, questioned the hospital's assessment and alleged a lack of transparency in his medical care. He claimed that he and Wangchuk's advocates have not been allowed to meet him, and his wife's request for medical reports has been denied.
"My team and I have been doing his checkups for the past 20 days. His advocates and we have not been allowed to meet him so far. His wife is here and they are allowing her. I asked them why they have kept him here, we were told that he is showing potassium deficiency. I had taken his blood sample at 3 pm yesterday and potassium was normal at that time. It was 4.8, higher than the normal value of 3.5. Now, they are saying the value has dropped. When his wife is asking for a report, they are not giving one to her. This is suspicious, so I am collecting his blood and taking it for a report. I will present the report to you. We do not trust the Govt lab," Dighe said.
Wangchuk's wife has formally requested the hospital to discharge him at the earliest and allow him to be shifted to another medical facility.
Meanwhile, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke launched an indefinite hunger strike on Saturday after Wangchuk was removed from the protest site, asserting that the planned July 20 march to Parliament would go ahead and demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's resignation.
