The government has decided to allow some MBBS graduates from Chinese universities to do one-year internship in hospitals across the country.

A Cabinet Committee meeting on February 3 decide to allow a group of graduates, who had completed their MBBS studies in China under government scholarship, will be eligible for internship.

Shanta Raj Subedi, Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, today said that his office had already written to the Ministry of Education to allow these students to complete a yearlong internship in the country after which they will be eligible for appearing for licence exam of medical doctors conducted by the Nepal Medical Council.

“The decision was made as per the MoE’s appeal. The ministry is now responsible to place these graduates at hospitals as interns,” he said.

On May 8, 2007, NMC had taken a decision barring students who completed their medical studies abroad from taking up internship in country’s hospitals.

Similarly, on February 5, 2008, the Ministry of Health and Population had issued a notice, warning hospitals in the country against taking any new foreign MBBS graduates for internship.

Few years back, some graduates of 2008 batch from China had approached the Patan Appellate Court against NMC’s decision. The court had then directed NMC to allow 18 students who had graduated from Dali University in China to do internships.

Many graduates who had returned from China after completing their four-year medical studies had been facing problems due to the government’s earlier decision.

Hari Lamsal, Spokesperson for MoE, said that the recent decision is applicable to around 35 graduates who completed MBBS course in China under the scholarship provided by the ministry. These graduates will also be eligible to appear in licence exam after the completion of their internship.

Every year around 400 students go to China to study MBBS. The cost of medical studies in Chinese universities is comparatively cheaper than that in India, Pakistan and others.

Dr Gajeshwor Gautam, Chairperson of NMC, said that internship is part of MBBS course and it should be arranged by medical colleges and universities where the students study MBBS. He stated that NMC was yet to receive any directive regarding the latest decision.

source: the himalayan times,4 feb 2015