Kathmandu, July 16

Twenty-five scholarship seats for the study of Masters in Nursing in China are at stake due to neglect on the part of the Ministry of Health and Population and Ministry of Home Affairs.

Nursing Association of Nepal has claimed that both the ministries have not taken any initiative to provide scholarships to nursing students.

Tara Pokharel, President of NAN said “Nurses this year seemed to lose their chances for further studies. China government had provided 25 scholarships for nursing students but both the ministries did not follow up on this to provide the scholarships,” said Pokharel.

The Government of People’s Republic of China last year, provided two-year full scholarship in Masters Degree for Nurses in which 32 students had the opportunity to study in China.

Pokharel informed that NAN had yet to send a list of nursing students till this July, but the ministries are still not decided as to who will provide the list of students to the Chinese Embassy.

“The ministries have been blaming each other. Health ministry suggests that we visit the Ministry of Home Affair, while MoHA claims that it is not responsible for the issue but points to the MoH,” said Pokharel, adding that none of the ministries are thinking about their responsibility.

She also said, “The government is trying to dominate the nursing field and nursing students. It seems as if it is trying to deprive students of the opportunity.”

NAN has requested Ministry of Health to publicise the information as per the memorandum of understanding reached last year and prepare a list of students for the study programme, but the ministry has nor taken any step in this regard.