Medical Education Reforms: 209 Free MD/MS Seats, Inclusive Nursing, and Expanded Foreign Student Quotas
The Medical Education Commission's 17th meeting, held on Wednesday, 12 February 2025, was chaired by Prime Minister and Chairman of the Medical Commission KP Sharma Oli. The Commission decided to add 209 seats in government health institutions. According to the Commission’s decision, an additional 209 students at the postgraduate level in medical sciences can pursue MD/MS free of charge.
According to Prof. Dr. Anjani Kumar Jha, Executive Vice-Chairman of the Medical Commission, the quota for PG has been increased after the meeting ensured resources for PG studies.
Similarly, the meeting has approved teaching of general nursing subject to students who have studied Plus Two in any subject. Now, regardless of the subject studied in Plus Two, students will be able to study general nursing. Earlier, only after passing 12th grade in science, they could study nursing (B.Sc. Nursing) at the undergraduate level. According to Jha, Vice Chairman of the Commission, this is the first time that general nursing is being studied in Nepal. “Regardless of the subject studied up to 12th grade, general nursing will be allowed to be studied,” said Dr. Jha, “The subjects that were being studied before will also continue as usual.”
Similarly, the meeting also discussed increasing the number of seats for foreign students studying in private medical colleges. At the meeting, a proposal was made to increase the number of foreign students to facilitate the implemAommission’s previous decision, which provided residential doctors in private medical colleges with a salary allowance equivalent to that of government institutions. A proposal on this matter will be presented at the upcoming Commission meeting. So far, medical colleges have allowed foreign students at a quota of 10 percent.
Previously, in the 16th meeting of the Commission held on Magh 25—addressing the demands arising from the protests of residential doctors (students)—it was decided that addressed medical colleges should provide a monthly salary allowance of NPR 48,436 t, residential doctors, equivalent to the government standard residential doctors with (8th tier).
During the meeting, Prime Minister Oli emphasized that private colleges must be involved and that the government cannot provide free education to all students. Therefore, the issues raised need further study and resolution. He urged the submission of concrete proposals to ensure that nursing education does not decline and to enhance the services and facilities available to nurses.
Medical Education Commission (MEC)