Toshima Karki

Dr. Toshima Karki (डा. तोसिमा कार्की) is a Nepali politician, a surgeon by profession and member of Rastriya Swatantra Party. Karki is a former Minister of State for Health Ministry of Nepal. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2022 from Lalitpur 3.

Early life and education
Toshima Karki was born in Nawalparasi district to Padam Karki and Deepa Karki. She pursued an MBBS degree from KIST College, Patan and further received her specialization in General Surgery with a Master of Surgery degree from Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences. Dr. Karki has remained an activist since her undergraduate days. She led the protest of intern doctors and medical students against wrongdoings in medical colleges in 2014-15.

Professional and political career
Dr. Karki is a general surgeon by education and practice. Alongside her medical profession, she has been actively vocal on the issues of health worker rights. She transitioned from a social activist to a politician after having joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party, ahead of the 2022 Nepalese general election.

She served as a lecturer in surgery at the Patan Academy of Health Sciences before filing her candidacy for the House of Representatives from Lalitpur 3. She was also an elected member of the executive committee at Nepal Medical Council (NMC) until she resigned from the post on 4 December 2022, following her electoral win. Her candidacy was initially rejected by the Election Commission of Nepal, citing her NMC member post as a position of profit. She filed a writ petition at the Supreme Court which upheld her candidacy.

Electoral history
In the 2022 Nepalese general election, she was elected from the Lalitpur 3 constituency, securing 31,136 (53.55%) votes, also beating the then Energy Minister, Pampha Bhusal.