Over the past three years, a total of 1,167 international students have registered in the medical college operating in Nepal. During the same timeframe, the number of Nepalese students pursuing medical education overseas has more than doubled to reach 2,222. These figures encompass both undergraduate and postgraduate levels of medical education.
Following the implementation of the Medical Education Act, which introduced a unified entrance examination, there appears to be a rise in the number of individuals opting to pursue medical education, including MBBS, overseas. However, despite the establishment of admission quotas for subjects other than MBBS, foreign students have not demonstrated an inclination to choose Nepal as their preferred destination.
According to Dr. Dilip Sharma, the Director of the Medical Education Commission, the introduction of the integrated entrance exam as a mandatory requirement for studying abroad has resulted in a decline in the number of students. He mentioned that not all individuals granted permission to study abroad have actually pursued their education overseas, as some may have done so without official authorization. Starting from Asoj 2077, the commission began granting permission to those who are coming from abroad and intending to study overseas.
Over the course of three years, a total of 969 individuals have embarked on their journey abroad to pursue undergraduate medical studies, while 654 students have enrolled in medical programs within Nepal. Likewise, out of 163 foreign students pursuing postgraduate studies, 428 have opted to study abroad. As for scholarship recipients, 27 students have pursued their education abroad, with 11 of them returning to Nepal. In the field of undergraduate nursing education, 218 students have ventured abroad, while 91 have returned to their home country. Among the 103 students granted permission for pharmacy studies overseas, 40 have chosen to enroll in medical colleges in Nepal. Nonetheless, medical college directors emphasize that some students who did not pass the entrance exams still manage to go abroad without obtaining official permission.
The director of the commission, Sharma, who is also a former registrar of the council, expressed his views when the Medical Council issued NOC stating that the number of individuals granted permission to study abroad has increased by more than 1,500 within a year.
An increasing number of students are choosing to pursue medical education in countries such as Bangladesh, China, Pakistan, and other nations. On the other hand, Nepali Medical Colleges attract a significant number of students from India. Additionally, students from countries like Sri Lanka and Maldives also come to study in Nepal. In the present academic session alone, 406 foreign students have enrolled in undergraduate programs, while 15 foreign students have been admitted to postgraduate programs. Moreover, in this academic session, 700 graduates and 266 students have obtained permission to pursue postgraduate studies in medicine abroad.
According to the provisions of the Medical Education Act, Nepal's medical colleges can accommodate more than 500 foreign students in their MBBS programs. Although the number experienced a decline during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is data indicating a gradual increase. The management of the medical colleges asserts that the decrease in student numbers is attributed to the newly introduced requirement of passing the integrated entrance examination conducted by the commission for studying in educational institutions within the country. Prior to the enactment of the Act, medical colleges used to directly admit hundreds of foreign students.
Indian students were previously drawn to renowned medical institutions in Nepal, such as the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan, Tribhuvan University Institute of Medicine in Kathmandu, Manipal College of Medical Sciences in Pokhara, College of Medical Sciences in Bharatpur, and Janaki Medical College in Nepalgunj.
As per the regulations outlined in the Act, private medical colleges have the authority to allocate 50% of the total seats to foreign students, while public educational institutions can reserve one-third of the seats for international students. In a single academic session, over 2,000 foreign students have the opportunity to enroll in 21 different undergraduate subjects within the field of medical education. However, apart from MBBS, BDS, and Pharmacy programs, a majority of foreign students do not tend to apply for the entrance examination.
According to commission officials, the enrollment of foreign students cannot be expanded beyond the allocated quota in the BP Institute of Health Sciences and the Institute of Medical Education. College administrators have made a request to increase the number of foreign students by conducting two academic sessions of medical education within a year. Despite policy announcements by the government, their implementation has yet to be seen. While private colleges have voiced their request, there is uncertainty regarding whether public educational institutions will be able to accommodate two academic sessions, as stated by Dr. Dilip Sharma, the Director of the Medical Education Commission.
The commission has formulated the Medical Education Policy with the objective of organizing and improving the medical education sector to enhance its appeal. This policy encompasses projections regarding the population involved in this field, along with the establishment of a national curriculum framework for undergraduate programs. Deputy Secretary Meghraj Sharma indicated that a curriculum has been devised for 13 subjects, enabling universities and institutions to implement their own curriculum based on this framework. Furthermore, Director Sangharatna Bajracharya mentioned the development of a methodology, led by the chief district officer, to evaluate fees in respective districts, in response to the fee hikes implemented by private medical colleges during the admission process.
The Commission conducted a press conference on Tuesday to provide updates on its ongoing initiatives. The session, presided over by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Monday, endorsed the procedures, policies, and curriculum. Furthermore, the meeting approved the Commission's program for the upcoming fiscal year, allocating an internal budget of 43,42,00,000.
