Kathmandu, July 19

A fee review committee formed by the Cabinet on July 10 to review fee structure of MBBS and BDS courses is holding its first formal meeting tomorrow.

The seven-member committee comprises representatives from Tribhuvan University and Kathmandu University, medical education experts and chartered accountants.

Prof Dr Shiva Kumar Rai, who heads the committee, said, “We have already started holding informal talks but we are holding the committee’s first formal meeting tomorrow.”

Other members of the committee include Prof Dr Bimal Kumar Sinha, acting dean, Institute of Medicine, TU; Dr Rajendra Koju, associate dean, Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences; Dr Bhola Rijal, chairperson, Association of Private Medical and Dental Colleges of Nepal; Prof Dr Jagadish Prasad Agrawal, medical education expert; and Mahesh Guragain, former chairperson of Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Similarly, joint-secretary at Higher and Technical Education Section, Ministry of Education, Dr Tulsi Thapaliya, is the member secretary of the committee. However, due to health problems, Prof Dr Agrawal had withdrawn his name from the committee. Earlier, the Mathema report had suggested to the government to fix the total fee of MBBS at Rs 3.5 million and BDS at Rs 1.8 million to be paid on instalments. The report had recommended that colleges not be allowed to charge additional fees.

Similarly, the report had also recommended that medical colleges announce the number of seats available along with total fee while calling for admissions.

Various committees were formed in the past to recommend fee structure for MBBS and BDS, but their recommendations were never implemented.

“We have been given a month’s time to submit the report with recommendations,”said Dr Rai. He informed that the report will be prepared only after holding talks with stakeholders such as private medical colleges, students, parents and representatives of consumer rights forum.

“I cannot say whether the fee for MBBS and BDS will increase or decrease but I can assure that our recommendation to the government will create a win-win situation for all,” he added.

The Mathema report had also recommended to the government to review the fee structure of MBBS and BDS every two years.