Task force formed to review medical seats, fees in private colleges

KATHMANDU: A meeting of the Medical Education Commission chaired by Prime Minister and Commission Chairperson KP Sharma Oli has formed an 11-member task force to review the seat quota and fee structure for MBBS and BDS programs in private medical colleges.

The meeting, held today at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar, mandated the task force to submit its recommendations within 10 days.

The task force will be led by Dr. Deepak Kafle, Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.

Members include Health Secretary Dr. Vikas Devkota, Dr. Mohan Sharma (Dean, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University), Dr. Manoj Humagain (Dean, School of Medical Sciences, Kathmandu University), experts Dr. Bhagwan Koirala, Dr. Ramesh Kant Adhikari, Dr. Divya Singh Shah, and Dr. Mangal Rawal. Also included are Dr. Anil Karki (Chairperson, Nepal Medical College) and Dr. Gyanendra Karki (President, Association of Private Medical and Dental Colleges).

The task force was formed following concerns raised by the association regarding difficulties in providing residential doctors with allowances equivalent to government doctors. Students had warned of fresh protests if these allowances were not ensured.

Earlier, the Commission’s 16th meeting on Magh 25 had decided that private medical colleges must provide monthly living allowances of Rs 48,500, equivalent to government-level eighth-tier positions, to residential doctors.

Following the upcoming review on seat quota and fee adjustments, private colleges will be obligated to provide the approved allowances, and the student matching process will begin.

The next meeting of the Commission is scheduled for Baisakh 15.