Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The Nepal Medical Education Commission (NEMC) has decided to add 209 seats at the postgraduate level.
The 17th meeting of the NEMC chaired by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli took the decision on Wednesday.
The meeting also held a discussion on increasing the number of seats for foreign students in private medical colleges. Private medical colleges made the proposal after the government decided to provide residential doctors in private medical colleges with stipends equivalent to government allowances.
Currently, medical colleges are allowed to admit foreign students up to 10% of their total seats.
The 16th meeting of the NEMC held last week had decided that private medical colleges must provide residential doctors with a monthly stipend equivalent to the government’s eighth-level salary of Rs 48,436.
Additionally, the meeting approved the report of the task force on nursing education, teaching and capacity expansion. Discussions were also held on the criteria for integrating educational institutions and programs.
Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Oli said since the government cannot provide free education to all students, it is essential to collaborate with private colleges. He also urged the NEMC to bring forward solid proposals to prevent the decline of nursing education and to enhance the services and facilities for nurses.
