Nov 11, 2024
In October 2024, approximately 480 Indian students participated in counselling sessions conducted by the Medical Education Commission (MEC) under the government of Nepal. But, now most of them are in a fix due to changing policies introduced by the Nepal Medical Council in April 2023. This implies that Indian students who have enrolled in Nepal after 2021 or are planning to move there for an MBBS or BDS degree will not be granted a license to practice in Nepal. Due to the change in policies international students from the 2021, 2022, and 2023 MBBS batches are considering abandoning their courses and planning to protest against private colleges and the Nepal Medical Council (NMC) over the uncertainty created by licensing regulations.
The Global Medical Society (GMS), an association representing Indian MBBS students in Nepal, has informed Education Times that they will soon protest, demanding amendments to NMC Regulations, 2024 (especially to the section 21 f). A student from Muzaffarpur, Bihar, studying at Kathmandu University, on the condition of anonymity says, “After the NMC’s ambiguous notifications released in April 2023 and October 2024, foreign students are struggling to ensure if their medical education will remain valid in India. Since Nepal does not grant licenses to foreign students, it is unclear why we are still expected to take the licensing exam. Without the license to practice in Nepal, our careers are at risk, as we will not be able to qualify for the FMGE or NExT exams in India.”
Another student from Gorakhpur, studying at Tribhuvan University, Nepal, says, “Nepal’s medical education is also not yet recognised by the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), which limits our opportunities worldwide. We have reached out to the Indian Embassy in Nepal for clarifications as well and are awaiting their response. If the NMC does not provide us with a practising license for at least 10 years, we will be forced to return to India.” Around 1,338 Indian students could face severe career setbacks if amendments or special provisions are not made for currently enrolled students in Nepal. “We also do not want more Indian students to get into this entrapment, thus we have asked the authorities to delay the last date of the ongoing admission process so that these students can make an informed decision,” adds the student.
Indian students have faced the potential loss of at least Rs 5 lakh each, which was illegally collected by consulting agencies as a pre-booking fee. Dr Kumar from a private medical college in Nepal says, “This year, around 845 students registered for counselling, and 480 students were selected based on the MEC merit list. Following awareness regarding the licensing issue, nearly 50% have withdrawn their applications. Most registrants this year were from Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Gujarat. Many students paid pre-booking fees to agents, ranging from Rs 5 to 15 lakh, despite the NMC’s clear statement that such fees are illegal. Consultants/ agents often mislead students and parents.”
Anuj Goyal, co-founder, Get My University, says, “The young Indian medical aspirants are draining their finances due to misleading information from certain consultants and private medical colleges in Nepal. From 2021 to 2024, over 1 ,400 students travelled to Nepal to pursue medical degrees, each investing an average of Rs 30 lakh in tuition fees—a combined total of Rs 400 crore. However, following a circular issued by the MEC on October 17, 2024, these students are now in severe distress, as their education in Nepal risks being invalidated, potentially costing them their savings and jeopardising their futures.”
Source: Education Times