Govinda K.C. is a Nepalese orthopedic surgeon and philanthropic activist. He is professor of orthopedics at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, part of the Institute of Medicine, Nepal. He is known for humanitarian work in Nepal and internationally, and for his activism in favor of independent academic functioning of the government medical institutions in Nepal, notably the Institute of Medicine and Patan Academy of Health Sciences. His non-violent protests and fasts have successfully pressurized the government and stakeholders.Govinda K.C. initially studied at the Institute of Medicine to be a Health Assistant (H.A.), which is the equivalent of a Physician Assistant in the USA. He had been unaware that this was a step in potentially becoming a doctor but on completing his H.A. he won a Ministry of Education scholarship to study for a M.B.B.S. in Bangladesh at Rajshahi Medical College. After graduation, he returned to Nepal and served in Bir Hospital. He then received further study (M.S.) in Bangladesh at Dhaka University to become an orthopedic surgeon. Although he wanted to serve in a tertiary hospital and there was a shortage of orthopedists in Kathmandu, plans were made to transfer him to a rural hospital where there would be no facilities to practice orthopedics. He resigned from Bir Hospital and joined the Institute of Medicine as a volunteer in 1994.
