In an enlightening panel discussion on "How to Retain Students in Nepal," organized by Edusanjal, Prof. Dr. ShriKrishna Giri, Vice-Chairperson of the Medical Education Commission (MEC), shared valuable insights on the positive trend in medical education, which has led to a decrease in the exodus of Nepali students seeking medical studies abroad.
Positive Shift in Medical Education
Dr. Giri began on a positive note, highlighting the remarkable success of the Medical Education Commission since its establishment. He emphasized that the trend of Nepalese students going abroad for medical studies has been consistently decreasing. While some students still opt to study abroad, the numbers have significantly reduced, demonstrating a positive shift towards pursuing medical education within Nepal.
Increasing Attraction for Foreign Students
Furthermore, Dr. Giri revealed that the number of foreign students coming to Nepal for medical studies is on an encouraging upward trend. After the establishment of MEC, in the first year, approximately 50 foreign students enrolled, followed by around 150 in the second year, and an impressive 434 enrollments in the third year. This surge in foreign enrollments signifies the growing attractiveness of Nepal as a destination for medical education.
Allocation of Seats for Foreign Students
The allocation of seats in medical programs for foreign students also reflects a positive outlook. Institutions with investments from stakeholders of foreign countries have allocated up to 50% of their seats for foreign students. Institutions solely backed by Nepalese investors have reserved up to 33% of their seats, while public colleges have allocated one-third of open seats for foreign students. This approach promotes inclusivity and enhances the country's reputation as an international educational hub.
Addressing Challenges in Nursing Education
Dr. Giri shed light on the challenges faced by nursing education, particularly the concerning issue of college closures. He emphasized that certain nursing colleges in Nepal have faced closures due to not meeting the prescribed infrastructure criteria set by the national medical policy. One of the crucial prerequisites for nursing institutions is to have a hospital with a capacity of at least 100 beds. Unfortunately, some colleges failed to comply with this requirement, leading to the revocation of their seats by the Medical Education Commission (MEC).
This decision aims to uphold the standards of nursing education and ensure that aspiring nurses receive high-quality training and education.
Perceived Shortage of Nursing Manpower: A Misnomer
Despite the prevailing narrative of a perceived shortage of nursing manpower in Nepal, Dr. Giri clarified that the situation is not as dire as it may seem. He reiterated that the human resource projection conducted by the Medical Education Commission has shown a more realistic and accurate state of the nursing workforce in the country. The projection provides evidence-based data, suggesting that the exodus of Nepalese nurses to foreign countries may not lead to a significant scarcity of nursing professionals in Nepal. The projection aims to dispel unfounded concerns and facilitate more informed planning and resource allocation in the healthcare sector. This evidence-based approach enables better planning for the future and ensures a balanced workforce distribution.
Regarding the exodus of Nepalese workforce from the health sector, Dr. Giri shared that approximately one-third of the nursing workforce goes abroad, but only 10% of those who go abroad continue working in the same field. This highlights the importance of creating a conducive environment that encourages the retention of skilled professionals within Nepal.
Conclusion: A Positive Future for Medical Education
In conclusion, Prof. Dr. Shrikrishna Giri stressed that the trend of exodus among Nepali students pursuing medical studies is showing a positive shift. The majority of students now consider Nepal as their first choice for medical education, opting to go abroad only if necessary. This positive trend reflects the improvements in the medical education system in Nepal and provides hope for retaining talented students within the country. The initiatives undertaken by the Medical Education Commission contribute to strengthening Nepal's healthcare system and nurturing a pool of competent healthcare professionals.
