Medical education
The Himalayan
Times
24 October 2019
Medical
education
It was
and is not uncommon to see the private medical colleges, which are run by group
of people having one way or the other political affiliation, charging exorbitant
fees from the inspiring students, who wanted to pursue their medical education
in the country, rather than going abroad for the same. The past governments for
many years and this government had never bothered to seriously look into such
malpractices until Dr. Govind KC, an anti-corruption crusader, staged several
fast-onto-death protests against these wrongdoings. Not all the agreements which
were signed with him were properly implemented.
A few
months ago, the government constituted the Medical Education Commission (MEC)
as demanded by Dr. KC, which has been entrusted with the authority to deal with
the medical education system. Recently, the MEC had decided to revise the fee
structure of MBBS from NRs. 3.85 million to NRs. 4.02 million in the valley and
NRs. 4.02 million to 4.44 million outside the valley and for BDS course to NRs.
2.02 million from NRs. 1.93 million, following the complaint lodged by the
Association of Private Medical and Dental Colleges (APMDC) citing that the old
fee structures were not enough to properly run the colleges. Now, the APMDC is
in agitation against this fee revision and blaming the MEC for not consulting them
before taking this decision “Undue demands” (THT, October 22, Page 6).
However,
these medical colleges were reaping upto 65 per cent profit even from the old
fee as found by the sub-panel of the Parliamentary Education and Health
Committee. There are other demands of APMDC among others asking the government
to increase the intake of MBBS students from 100 to 150 and for BDS to 75 from
50. Hundreds of students are waiting for the admission date, which is yet to be
announced by the government. There are 12 private medical colleges in the
country, which are supposed to provide qualitative medical education to the
aspiring students who will ultimately be providing health services to the
general people. So, it is yet to be seen how the MEC takes its stand on its
decision.
Rai Biren Bangdel
Maharajgunj
