Task force formed to review seat allocations, fee structures for MBBS, BDS programs

KATHMANDU: The Medical Education Commission has formed an 11-member task force to revisit seat allocations and fee structures for MBBS and BDS programs in private medical institutions.

The 18th meeting of the commission chaired by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli held on Wednesday took the decision.

The task force, led by Dr Deepak Kafle, Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, has Health Secretary Dr Bikas Devkota, Deans of medical faculties of Tribhuvan University and Kathmandu University, and experts such as Dr Bhagwan Koirala and Dr Ramesh Kant Adhikari, as well as representatives from private medical colleges as members.

It has been given 10 days to submit its recommendations.

This review comes in response to ongoing disputes regarding stipends for resident doctors. In February, the commission had directed private colleges to provide monthly stipends of Rs 48,500 to match government rates for resident doctors.

However, Association of Private Medical and Dental Colleges Nepal had said that it would be difficult to implement the commission’s directions.

The task force will recommend to the government measures to address concerns raised private medical and dental college promoters.