ATHMANDU, Aug 15: The Medical Education Commission (MEC) has added 1,394 seats for medical education in Nepal this year to produce skilled manpower within the country. The decision was made at MEC’s 21st meeting on Thursday at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM), Singha Durbar, chaired by Prime Minister and MEC Chair KP Sharma Oli. The increase in the number of seats was decided considering the growing demand for Nepalese doctors in the global market.
Although medical education in Nepal covers 17 disciplines, the demand for MBBS and nursing remains highest domestically and internationally. Based on data from studies and research, Prime Minister Oli stated that 495 MBBS seats and 440 BSc Nursing seats have been added this year. “Given the country’s needs and capacity in medical education, we increased the number of MBBS and nursing seats based on findings of a research,” PM Oli said while addressing the meeting. “We are capable of producing skilled doctors domestically through service-oriented education. The infrastructure is sufficient, and quality medical education can be accessed locally at affordable fees,” he said, adding, “Our aim is to make Nepal a hub for medical education. With the increase in seats, foreign students can also study here, positively impacting our economy.”
Previously, Nepal had 2,140 MBBS seats, which have now increased to 2,635 with the addition of 495 seats. Similarly, nursing seats, which were 1,990 last year, have been increased by 440 to 2,430 this year due to high demand.
Dr Padam Bahadur Khadka, MEC member and Chair of the Association of Private Health Institutions Nepal (APHIN), stated that 50 seats have also been added to BDS, raising the total to 625. According to him, there are currently 89 institutions nationwide offering undergraduate medical education, of which private medical colleges account for 75 percent.
Nobel-worthy
Currently, 17 programs fall under health education in Nepal, including BDS, BSc Nursing, BNS, BMS, BPH, BPT, BAMS, BASLP, BSc Radiotherapy, BSc MLT, BSc MIT, BSc CLSY, BPharm, BSc Midwifery, BPO AOM, and MBBS. However, BMS seats were reduced from 100 to 65 this year.
“Seventy-five percent of students studying medicine under government programs receive full scholarships, amounting to Rs 5 billion annually, and private colleges also provide 10 percent full scholarships for admissions,” Dr Khadka said in an interview with Republica, “Due to limited seats in medicine, students often go abroad for MBBS and nursing, leading to capital flight. Increasing medical seats will curb this and positively impact the local economy, while producing skilled manpower capable of competing globally.”
He said, “To open a medical college, a 100-bed hospital is mandatory, along with academic and faculty management. Colleges in hills require 150–200 ropanis of land, and in the Terai, 20 bighas. A minimum investment of Rs 1 billion is needed to manage these requirements. Increasing seats creates a positive environment where colleges survive and students can access quality medical education locally.”
CTEVT seats finalized, admissions open
Meanwhile, the Commission’s 20th meeting on June 15 had also increased seats in health programs under the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Council (CTEVT). Eleven institutions were added then, and five more in the 21st meeting, bringing the total to 16 newly established diploma-level nursing institutions. Altogether, 280 institutions now run health programs under CTEVT.
According to CTEVT Secretary Mahesh Bhattarai, around 25,000 students apply annually for PCL Nursing admissions, but only about 2,200 seats are available. “The meeting reinstated affiliations for previously suspended colleges and added 40 seats,” Secretary Bhattarai told Republica. “CTEVT programs, especially nursing, are highly sought after. Seats in our institutions have not yet met the demand, so further increases are necessary,” he said, “Now that seat allocation is finalized, the provincial offices of the Council will start sending students to institutions for admission based on SEE scores and merit from Friday onward.”
