Koshi sets new fee for driving-license medical certificates via listed doctors

In Koshi Province, service seekers will now have to pay more than before to obtain the medical fitness certificate required for a driving license. The province's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law is preparing to end the service provided by contract doctors and instead issue certificates through listed doctors.

Under the new arrangement, you will have to pay about Rs 350 in revenue to the provincial government and about Rs 150 as a fee to the doctor, totaling nearly Rs 500. Previously, paying only about Rs 350 in revenue was enough.

The ministry has called on doctors willing to issue certificates to get listed. Ministry Secretary Krishna Sapkota said the arrangement is being implemented in line with a circular from the federal government.

About two years ago, after complaints of bribery and overcharging in the name of health check-ups, the provincial government had deployed contract doctors at transport management offices. Two doctors each had been serving in Itahari and Birtamod, and one each at other offices.

There has also been opposition to the new arrangement, with claims that it seeks to impose a financial burden on service seekers.