Nepali medical students seek internships at home

Amid growing concerns over the future of Nepali medical students studying abroad, a group of students recently met with top government officials to voice their concerns and demands. They met with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Minister for Foreign Affairs Arzu Rana, Minister for Education, Science, and Technology Bidya Bhattarai, as well as top political leaders and officials from the Nepal Medical Council (NMC) and Medical Education Commission (MEC) and other medical organizations. During these meetings, the students presented a two-point demand letter, asking the Nepal government to arrange internship placements within the country.

Students who complete their MBBS examinations in Bangladesh are required to undertake mandatory internships at hospitals affiliated with various medical colleges before graduating. A year of internship is essential to qualify as a medical doctor. The students argue that providing internships in Nepal would help retain skilled young professionals, familiarize them with the local medical system and improve healthcare services nationwide.

Navin Yadav, chair of the Nepalese Medical Students’ Association, Bangladesh, who is leading the campaign, expressed his frustration thus: “Despite the desire to study in our home country, the situation of being forced to leave our families and country for education, along with the long-term commitment, hard work, high fees and numerous other challenges to obtain a degree, it is disheartening that there are no facilities to support and encourage us in our own country.”

The students have also requested an amendment to the provision requiring a six-month internship for the license examination conducted by the NMC. They advocate for these internships to be scheduled immediately following the MBBS final exams, eliminating unnecessary delays.

“Nepali students must pay the internship fee at the time of admission, which is typically five years in advance, in order to do an internship at a private medical college in Bangladesh. This fee is then returned to them monthly as a salary,” Yadav says. “Even those who study in government medical colleges do not receive any stipend while doing their internship.”

Many organizations have been established in the name of advancing the medical field, yet despite being led by doctors themselves, students complain that these bodies are not taking the lead in improving the medical system, supporting healthcare workers, or enhancing the overall system. The students stressed the absence of policies and opportunities that would encourage young professionals to stay in Nepal and contribute to its development. They questioned when the corrupt mentality of forcing qualified professionals to go abroad for personal gain will end. The students also argued that the state should set clear criteria for colleges and universities, ensuring that those who study abroad for medical education should be permitted to study only in institutions that meet these standards.

Dr Choplal Bhusal, chairperson of the NMC and former ambassador of Nepal to Bangladesh, acknowledged that while he understands the students’ concerns, their demands cannot be addressed as the council’s regulations require internships to be completed in the country where the students are studying. “Nepal does not even have the capacity to provide internships for medical students studying abroad,” he explained. “Moreover, Nepali students who go abroad to study medicine do so with the permission to complete their internships in the respective country’s colleges. The internship system in Nepal is complex, and amending the council’s laws and regulations is not an easy process. The Cabinet would need to make such decisions.”

However, the Association of Private Medical and Dental Colleges of Nepal has expressed its readiness to provide internship facilities to Nepali medical students who return home after leaving their internships midway in Bangladesh. Issuing a statement, the association expressed concern about the students’ academic progress and future. “We are deeply concerned about the well-being of Nepali students in Bangladesh during such a difficult time. However, in our country, such cases are not being addressed with the seriousness they deserve,” read the statement signed by Prof Dr Gyanendra Man Singh Karki, president of the association. Neighboring countries like India and even Bangladesh also allow students to complete their internships within the country.

Meanwhile, the Nepal government is awaiting a report from a study committee formed under the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology to study the issue. Although the committee was given a 10-day deadline that ended on Aug 20, the report has yet to be published or submitted. The students have warned that they will start protests if their demands are not met.

In July 2021, when several Nepali medical students returned home from China during the Covid-19 pandemic without completing their internships, the MEC allowed them to complete their remaining internships in Nepal. “Students from Bangladesh are seeking a similar response, especially given the current political turmoil in Bangladesh,” says Yadav. 

Due to ongoing protests in Bangladesh, most Nepali medical students, including those in the middle of their internships, have returned home. An estimated 3,500 Nepali students, the majority of whom are pursuing medical degrees, are enrolled in various Bangladeshi universities. According to Nepal’s embassy in Dhaka, about 400 students remain in Bangladesh. However, the students’ demands extend beyond the current emergency situation; they are calling for a permanent change in the law to allow internships in Nepal. 

Additionally, the students have urged the government to address the shortage of medical seats in Nepal, which forces many to seek education abroad. “We are forced to go abroad for medical education due to the lack of seats in Nepal. This not only affects us but also has economic implications for the country. If we could study here, we could do so safely,” read the statement submitted by the students to various ministries.