Medical students have expressed disagreement with the matching notice published by the Medical Education Commission after reducing the number of postgraduate seats in private medical colleges.
The Struggle Committee for Safe Workplaces for Health Workers issued a press release on Tuesday demanding the correction of the matching process within 24 hours and the assurance that all residential doctors receive pay equivalent to that of level eight government officials.
Private medical colleges refused to pay postgraduate medical students the same pay as level eight government officers, so the Commission included only government medical colleges in the matching notice.
Postgraduate MD, MS, and MDS program classes are scheduled to begin from Baisakh.
The Commission has allocated 1,268 seats in government medical colleges and 818 seats in private medical colleges for the upcoming academic year.
The Commission has been publishing the admission list and matching in government-owned institutions and colleges based on the merit list. The government has been offering free postgraduate education in government-owned colleges and institutions.
According to the students, private medical colleges have created an artificial shortage of PG seats and engaged in bargaining, claiming they cannot provide monthly pay equivalent to government level eight nor admit new students, despite the recommendations of two expert committees formed by the government and the decision made in the full meeting of the Medical Education Commission.
The Struggle Committee has warned that private medical colleges will launch an indefinite strike if the demands are not fulfilled within 24 hours.
They also demanded that if private medical colleges do not comply with the government decision, programs like MBBS, BDS, MD, MS, DM, and MCH should be revoked, and all government grants, including health insurance, should be canceled.
The press release stated, “By ignoring repeated oral and written requests from residential doctors and mocking the rule of law, private medical colleges have continued to issue threats, harass doctors, and exploit them severely.”
The statement further warned that all interns, medical officers, and residential doctors must remain ready for an indefinite strike if the demands are not fulfilled within 24 hours.
On the 25th of Magh, during the 16th meeting of the Commission chaired by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, it was decided to provide a monthly living allowance of NPR 48,737 to residential doctors, equivalent to level eight of the Nepal Government.
A circular was also issued to implement the decision. However, private medical college operators claimed they were forced to comply with the government's decision and refrained from new admissions.
Key Demands List :
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Correct the matching process within 24 hours.
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Provide residential doctors with pay equivalent to that of level eight government employees.
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Secure and confirm the number of seats.
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Oppose private medical colleges' artificial reduction of PG seats for refusing to provide level eight pay.
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End the bargaining practices of private medical colleges.
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Implement the level eight equivalent pay as per the government's decision.
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Warn of an indefinite strike if private colleges do not comply.
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Cancel the recognition of MBBS, BDS, MD, MS, DM, and MCH programs if colleges reject the decision.
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Cancel health insurance and government grants provided to private medical colleges.
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Stop threats, harassment, and labor exploitation against doctors.
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All interns, medical officers, and residential doctors must be prepared for indefinite protest.
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Immediately implement the NPR 48,737 monthly living allowance decided on 25th Magh.
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Reject the claim of private colleges that they are not admitting new students because of the decision.
