PRIME MINISTER KOIRALA HOSPITALIZED WITH PNEUMONIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001755 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/05/2016 TAGS: PGOV PTER PINR NP SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER KOIRALA HOSPITALIZED WITH PNEUMONIA Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Nick Dean. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). MORE DOCTORS FOR KOIRALA -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Prime Minister GP Koirala was admitted to the Martyr Gangalal National Heart Center in Kathmandu late on July 3 following respiratory difficulties. Dr. Madhu Ghimire, Koirala's personal physician, announced at a midnight press briefing that the Prime Minister had pneumonia in the lower part of his lungs but no heart-related complications. In a subsequent July 4 press conference, Dr. Ghimire said that Koirala's physical condition was improving and noted that the Prime Minister's condition would become clearer in 48-72 hours. He announced that the Heart Center's doctors have advised Koirala to remain in the hospital for 10-14 days. Dr. JN Pande, a senior Indian chest specialist, has traveled to Kathmandu to monitor Koirala's health. PM Koirala's plans to present the government's policy programs for the next fiscal year have been postponed until at least July 9. COMMENT -------------- ¶2. (C) With the Prime Minister indisposed for the second time in as many weeks, questions loom about his ability to fulfill his government responsibilities--and about who would take over in the event of his permanent absence. Deafening silence greets anyone who asks whether the Nepali Congress or the seven-party alliance is considering contingency planning for succession. To counteract this anxiety, the PM's office continues to feed the media regular updates on Koirala's "improving" condition. The PM's fragile health adds another largely unpredictable complication to Nepal's already convoluted peace process. DEAN