Doctors at Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi briefed the media Monday on the health condition of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk [1].
The update comes as Wangchuk continues a high-profile hunger strike, raising concerns about the physical toll of prolonged fasting on his vital organs.
Dr. Manisha Bais Thakur, head of the department of medicine at Safdarjung Hospital, said the activist is currently stable. She said Wangchuk is refusing intravenous fluids and medication [2].
Wangchuk was shifted to the hospital on July 18, 2026, which marked the 21st day of his hunger strike [3]. Previous reports indicate he had completed 20 days of fasting before the transfer [4].
Medical staff are operating under specific legal mandates to monitor the activist's health. Dr. Akshay Kumar, an additional professor in the department of emergency medicine, said the Delhi High Court has ordered daily health checks because of his deteriorating condition [5].
A hospital spokesperson said the medical team is monitoring his condition closely and will keep the media informed as per the court’s directives [6].
While hospital officials describe him as stable, there are conflicting reports regarding his intake. Some sources indicate he is refusing all intravenous support [2], while others suggest he is receiving oral fluids from the hospital [7].
The medical briefing on July 20, 2026, serves as an official record of his status amid the ongoing protest [1].
“"He is stable but is refusing intravenous fluids and medication,"”
The court-mandated daily health checks and the public briefing by hospital leadership indicate that the state is treating Wangchuk's health as a high-liability issue. By documenting his refusal of intravenous fluids and medication, the medical team is establishing a legal record of the activist's autonomy and the hospital's adherence to court orders, shifting the responsibility for his physical deterioration from the providers to the patient.
