Kathmandu: One year on, the committee tasked with preparing a fee structure for medical colleges is yet to complete its task.

The Cabinet had, on September 28, 2010, formed a nine-member Medical College Promotion Development Committee (MCPDC), assigning it to evaluate the colleges, look into their affiliation process and propose a fee structure.

After the expiry of its tenure on December 25, the cabinet had decided that the panel should remain in existence till it submits its report to the government.

Explaining the reason behind the delay, one under-secretary at the Ministry of Education said it was almost impossible to ensure the participation of all members in committee meetings because of their ‘busy schedule’. He said, “We make a decision, only to find that absentee committee members are opposed to it.”

He said they have managed to hold only six meetings within the past 11 months.

The committee comprises representatives from the National Planning Commission, ministries of Education and Health, Nepal Medical Council, BP Koirala Health Science Academy, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital and the Kathmandu University.

Currently, the country has 19 medical colleges and some of them charge up to Rs 3.8 million for the completion of five-year MBBS courses.

These colleges offer 30 to 130 seats in their programmes. Apart from Nepalis, students from SAARC member-states, including India and Sri Lanka, have been studying in these institutions.

According to sources, the committee has maintained that a medical college should not take more than Rs 2.5 million for the completion of MBBS studies, though it is yet to take a formal decision in this regard.

source: The Himalayan Times