Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was admitted to Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi on Saturday after a hunger strike lasting approximately 20 days [1].
The hospitalization highlights the physical toll of Wangchuk's protest against alleged irregularities in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). His refusal of medical intervention while in a weakened state creates a critical tension between his political goals and his medical survival.
Medical staff at Safdarjung Hospital said that Wangchuk is suffering from dehydration and low potassium [1]. Doctors also said rising ketones in his system have led to a risk of kidney dysfunction [3]. Despite these complications, his blood sugar level was recorded at 78 mg/dL upon admission [5].
Reports on the severity of his condition vary. Some accounts describe his health as critical due to the prolonged fast [3]. However, other updates suggest his condition is stable. A Safdarjung Hospital spokesperson said, "He is conscious with stable pulse, blood pressure and oxygen saturation" [4].
Despite the medical risks, Wangchuk has reportedly refused intravenous fluids and oral rehydration salts [4, 5]. This refusal complicates the hospital's ability to treat the dehydration and electrolyte imbalances caused by the fast.
Wangchuk began the strike to demand reforms and transparency regarding the NEET examinations. The protest has drawn significant attention to the integrity of India's medical entrance exams, a high-stakes system that determines the professional future of thousands of students each year.
“He is conscious with stable pulse, blood pressure and oxygen saturation.”
The situation underscores the extreme measures activists in India use to draw attention to systemic corruption in public institutions. By refusing life-saving fluids, Wangchuk is escalating the political pressure on the government to address NEET irregularities, turning his personal health crisis into a public symbol of the perceived failure of the examination system.
