Call to enforce Mathema Report and finalize medical education bill

Kathmandu / July 17: Joint Students’ Association has called on the government to enforce the Mathema Committee’s Report on Health Professional Education Policy-2072 for what they said the development of education sector.

At an interaction programme on ‘situation of medical science in Nepal and role of authorities concerned’ organised by All Nepal Students’ Union here Sunday, students leaders stressed the need of the enforcement of the report to keep the sector of medical science free from irregularities.

The report recommended the government to suspend the opening of any medical college for at least three years. One province one medical college, at least 300 beds in a medical college and a maximum fees for the MBBS study is Rs 3.5 million are among the recommendations included in the Mathema Report.

The report suggests that a Medical Education Commission should be formed to address problems surfaced in medical science. The association includes 13 students’ unions.

Meanwhile, the Association of Private and Dental Colleges of Nepal has demanded that the National Medical Bill tabled at the parliament be finalized soon.

The Association has also urged the authorities concerned to recognize the contribution of the private medical colleges to the nation. As part of its campaign to exert pressure on immediate passage of the bill, the Association organized a procession today. The procession that began from Bhrikutimandap ended upon reaching Maitighar mandala.

Addressing the gathering, Dr Jeevan Prakash Sharma said staging hunger strikes inside hospital premises was a crime, and described Dr Govinda KC’s strike as ‘irrelevant’.

Chairperson of the Association Dr Bhola Rijal stressed on scientific evaluation of the medical teaching and learning activities carried out by the private sector, in the context when the government alone has not been able to ensure health services to all citizens. RSS