Private medical colleges seek fee hike, propose foreign-student quota

Private medical and dental colleges have demanded that the government immediately review MBBS and BDS fees.

The Association of Private Medical and Dental Colleges Nepal made the demand at a press conference in Kathmandu on Thursday. Association chairman Prof. Dr. Gyanendra Man Singh Karki said fees had not been revised since 2019. He said the cost of manpower, equipment, medicines, electricity and hospital operations had been rising continuously. Operators said that without a fee increase, it was difficult to maintain quality, add new equipment and upgrade infrastructure.

The association also released a concept paper titled 'Medical Education in Nepal: Challenges and Opportunities'. It proposes increasing the quota for foreign students in exchange for adding more scholarship quotas for Nepali students. The association said Nepal could be developed as a hub for medical education and medical tourism.

It has placed a six-point proposal before the government, including admissions based on verified capacity, separate arrangements for foreign students, and simplifying the international admission process. The proposal also calls for prioritising scholarships for Nepali students and reviewing fees on a scientific basis.