Kathmandu. Despite the warning given by Dr Govinda KC, the 21st meeting of the Medical Education Commission has decided to increase the number of students enrolled in various subjects at the undergraduate level under medical education.
A meeting chaired by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Thursday decided to give approval for the admission of 1,359 more students at the undergraduate level.
Dr Govinda KC, a reform campaigner for medical education, has been insisting that the admission quota should not be increased immediately due to infrastructure and human resources for quality medical education. He has also been on a fast-unto-death to put pressure on the government.
The meeting also decided to increase the number of students enrolled in MBBS. The Commission has decided to approve the admission of 495 more students in MBBS (Medical Graduate Level). Now the number of students enrolled in MBBS level in teaching hospitals across the country will reach 2,635. Earlier, there were 2,140 seats for MBBS. The meeting also decided to add 50 marks for Bachelor in Dental Surgeon BDS.
The managements of the medical colleges had put forth the condition that the government should increase the number of admissions after the resident doctors working in the teaching hospital staged a strike demanding salary hike and minimum salary and leave facilities.
It was only after Prime Minister KP Oli assured to increase the admission quota through the Medical Education Commission that the private sector medical college operators agreed to fulfill the demands put forth by the resident doctors.
Similarly, 440 students have been added to BSc Nursing and 122 students to BNS. Earlier, there were 1,990 seats in BSc Nursing, which has now increased to 2,430. The Commission has decided to add 62 seats in BPH, 10 seats in BAMS, 5 seats in BSC Radiotherapy, 562 seats including BSc and BNS.
Similarly, the commission has reduced the number of students enrolled in BMS by 35 to 65 seats.
