Kathmandu, November 6

On the second day of their protest against exorbitant fees charged by medical colleges, students today organised a rally demanding refund of their fees charged by medical colleges.

The rally was held in Maitighar where students chanted slogans for justice, demanded punishment for corrupt medical college owners and demanded refund of exorbitant fees taken from them.

The students also requested civil society to help them in their efforts to implement the tuition fees decided by the government for medical studies. “Until and unless the extra money taken from students is not returned, we will not end our protest,” said one of the students.

Earlier, the Medical Education Struggle Committee had held demonstration in Chitwan against exorbitant fees being charged from students defying the government rule.

Students from Chitwan Medical College, Chitwan, Universal Medical College, Bhairahawa and National Medical College, Birgunj, assembled in the capital city to participate in the protest as extra fees taken from them have not yet been refunded by medical colleges.

Students from private medical colleges in Kathmandu were also present in the rally.

The students said they couldn’t concentrate on studies or treating patients. “How can we sit for exams and treat patients when we are under mental stress? The issue of extra fee must be resolved immediately,” said Pramit Kumar Mishra, a student.

“If it is true that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s medical cost in Singapore was borne by the owners of medical colleges, then we will collect money for the treatment of the prime minister in the future,” said Manyata Thapa, a student. They have also sought government’s intervention to ensure that all medical colleges returned the extra money to the students.

“We are here to make our voices heard. Medical fee decided by the government should be implemented at the earliest and extra fees taken from students should be returned,” said Prakash Chand, co-ordinator of the Medical Education Struggle Committee.