# Medical education in Nepal

Medical education in Nepal includes the educational activities designed to prepare the health care providers. It has evolved over the years, offering a range of undergraduate, postgraduate, and specialized programs through both public and private institutions. It aims to produce skilled healthcare professionals to address the country's healthcare needs.

## History

The medical education in Nepal officially began with the establishment of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) under Tribhuvan University in 1972. Initially, it focused on training middle-level health workers, but later expanded to include medical, nursing, and postgraduate programs. The BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS) in Dharan was established in 1993 as an autonomous university, offering advanced medical education. Other key institutions like Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences (KUSMS) and Patan Academy of Health Sciences (PAHS) were established to diversify medical education opportunities.

## Programs
### Undergraduate programs

Undergraduate (UG) programs include:
* MBBS : The Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) is the most popular program. It is typically 5.5 years long, including a year of internship.
* BDS: Bachelor of Dental Surgery is a 5-year program.
* Nursing Programs: Bachelor of Nursing (BN), Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSc Nursing).
* Allied Health Sciences : Various programs like Bachelor of Pharmacy, Bachelor of Public Health (BPH), Bachelor in Medical Laboratory Technology, etc.

### Postgraduate programs

Postgraduate (PG) programs include:
* MD/MS: Master of Medicine and Master of Surgery are offered in various specialties such as Internal Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, and Obstetrics and Gynecology.
* MSc Nursing: For specialized nursing education.

### Superspeciality programs

Superspeciality Programs include the DM/MCh, super-specialization degrees such as the Doctorate of Medicine and Master of Chirurgiae) in fields like Cardiology, Neurology, etc.

## Governing bodies

Several governing bodies regulate medical education and healthcare professionals in Nepal to ensure quality, ethics, and standards.
* Nepal Medical Council : Established in 1964, the Nepal Medical Council is responsible for accrediting medical institutions, licensing doctors, and enforcing medical ethics.
* Nepal Nursing Council : The Nepal Nursing Council regulates nursing education and practice. It was established in 1996 to license and register qualified nurses and midwives, ensuring high standards in nursing education.
* Medical Education Commission (MEC) : The Medical Education Commission conducts centralized entrance exams, curriculum development, and quality assurance in medical and health sciences education. It was created to maintain transparency and equity in medical education.
* Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology (MoEST) : The Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology formulates policies for medical education and approves new institutions in coordination with regulatory bodies.

## Controversies

Medical education in Nepal has faced several problems, mainly around high fees, poor quality, and unfair admissions. Some private medical colleges have been criticized for charging much higher fees than allowed, leading to protests from students and families. There have also been claims of political influence in approving medical colleges.
Dr. Govinda KC has led multiple hunger strikes to demand reforms in Nepal's medical education system.