MEC mandates living allowances for residential doctors

• Medical Education Commission forms technical committee to review fee structures

KATHMANDU: The 19th meeting of the Medical Education Commission (MEC) concluded today with a decision that private medical colleges must ensure living expenses for residential doctors at the rate previously determined, effective from date of the decision.

The meeting further stressed that residential doctors who are currently agitating should return to their duties and studies.

The MEC's 16th meeting, held on February 8, had directed private medical colleges to provide living allowances for residential doctors on par with government facilities. It had been decided that private residential doctors would receive Rs 48,737 in living allowances per month.

In addition, the meeting reviewed a report submitted by the 11-member task force responsible for examining the number of seats and fee structures of private medical colleges for Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), and Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) programmes.

During the meeting, held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, task force coordinator Dr Deepak Kafle, Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST), presented the report to Prime Minister and MEC Chairperson KP Sharma Oli.

The report paved the way for forming a technical committee to review the seats and fee structures based on the standards of medical colleges, in line with the Medical Education Act of 2075 BS.

Based on the report, a technical committee was formed, headed by Pro Dr Sujan Babu Marhatta of the Directorate of Planning, Coordination and Academic Upgradation within the MEC. Other members include Pro Dr Dibya Singh Shah, senior chartered accountant Mahesh Guragain, chartered accountant Santosh Khanal, and under secretaries from the MoEST, Ministry of Health and Population, and the Ministry of Finance.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, MEC Co-Chairperson and Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Raghuji Pant, stated that the 16th meeting had already resolved to provide living allowances on par with government facilities for residential doctors at private hospitals. He added that agitating doctors are expected to return to work.

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