PM holds discussion with officials to sort out issues of medical education

BY A STAFF REPORTER,Kathmandu, Nov. 18: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has discussed issues in the medical education sector with officials of the Medical Education Commission (MEC). 

During the discussion held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar on Sunday, consultations were held in regard to determining the number of student seats in government medical colleges based on their capacity and managing fees and scholarships in private medical colleges as per regulations.

The discussion focused on ways to provide accessible and high-quality medical education within the country, create employment opportunities for skilled personnel in health institutions and contribute to the nation's prosperity. 

Prime Minister Oli also expressed concern about facilitating enrolment in all institutions affiliated with the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) for nursing education. He advised that a meeting of the commission be convened soon to make necessary decisions and to prepare for timely amendments to existing laws and regulations to facilitate medical education. 

"We must prioritise national interest and fairness. Our focus should be on how it benefits the country's prosperity," said Prime Minister Oli, who is also the chairperson of the commission. "We should not act impulsively, pursue narrow interests or create conditions that force Nepali students to study abroad unnecessarily."

The provision in Clause 12 of the National Medical Education Act, 2019, which requires hospitals with at least 300 beds for medical programmes and 100 beds for dental and nursing programmes, has caused difficulties in operating nursing education programmes. Challenges have also emerged in aligning the commission and council's annual calendars.

Vice-chairperson of the commission, Prof. Dr. Anjani Kumar Jha, informed that the next commission meeting will include an agenda to issue letters of intent to seven new institutions and determine student quotas for 28 institutions. 

The commission has been working on unified regulation, monitoring, entrance examination conduction, student seat allocation, and fee determination for medical education institutions.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Oli also held discussions with former vice-chancellors of Kathmandu University, Dr. Suresh Raj Sharma and Dr. Ramkantha Makaju Shrestha, among others, to resolve the ongoing dispute between Kathmandu University and Dhulikhel Hospital. 

As the Chancellor of the university, he emphasised the importance of both institutions working together for mutual benefit, given their international reputation. He had previously instructed the Senate meeting to make internal preparations to find a solution.

A task force, including representatives of the Nepal government, officials from both institutions and public representatives, has been formed to resolve the dispute. The task force's report will be presented at the university's Senate meeting.