AFFORDABLE MEDICAL EDUCATION
The
Kathmandu Post
2 April
2017
AFFORDABLE
MEDICAL EDUCATION
It
has been a huge challenge for the government to send doctors to hospitals
located in rural areas. There are several reasons for this longstanding
problem. The main reasons are the costs involved in the completing the post
graduate studies and the salary public hospitals provide. Over Rs. 5 million is
required to complete a post-graduate study in medicine, whereas the government
hospitals pay about Rs. 40,000/- as monthly salary (“A healthy health policy” March 29, Editorial).
Last
month, the Health Ministry announced 117 vacancies for specialist positions. It
was reported that only 38 doctors expressed interest. Not a single application for
ENT and general medicine positions was received. Doctors and health personnel are
not interested to work in the public hospitals. Private hospitals offer
remuneration that is several times higher than what is offered by government
hospitals. Most private hospitals have been doing extremely well, both in terms
of making profits and providing services of international standards.
The
current scenario shows that the government has a lot to do if it intends to fill
the required positions of specialist doctors and other health personnel in public
hospitals. It needs to prioritise affordable and quality medical education for
competent students. The government has to be committed to the implementation of
policies aimed at boosting the public health sector. If private hospitals can
afford to pay higher salaries and provide perks and benefits to their staff, so
too, should the government. People in rural areas are being deprived of even basic
health services. Who is to blame for this?
Rai Biren Bangdel
Maharajgunj
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