It is expected that the quality of teaching in these colleges would be enhanced thereby producing qualified doctors who meet the international standards

The Institute of Medicine (IoM) under Tribhuvan University published the results of the MBBS re-entrance examination Monday. These exams were held amidst tight security on December 2. These examinations were taken after the IoM on November 19 decided to cancel the MBBS entrance examinations that were held on October 14 following the endorsement of the Tribhuvan University Executive Committee’s directive. The IoM’s Examination Control Division scrapped the entrance exams after the endorsement of the directive. The TUEC had sent the IoM a letter on November 16 that the questions papers of examination of the entrance exams held on October 14 been leaked. The TUEC had concluded that there were massive irregularities in the conduct of this exam. It reached this conclusion too on the basis of the TU probe committee report and other reports submitted by the police and the committee that had been formed by the Nepal Medical Council to look into the matter and also legal advice from experts. The police had nabbed over two dozen people, including students, for cheating in the exams and also those helping them to do so by using wireless devises. The questions were passed on to the racketeers who included doctors and the operators of education consultancies who were paid a handsome amount.

The pass percent of the MBBS re-entrance exams of the IoM this time was 46 percent. This was comparatively lower than that of last year when it was around 50 percent. Some examinees had been able to score more than 90 marks. However, in this re-entrance exam the highest score was 88. According to the authorities this was so as this time the questions set were standard. This was one of the main reasons for the poor performance of students who scored relatively lower as compared to last year’s exams. Some 3,331 students, Nepalis and foreign, have passed the re-entrance exams held on December 2. A total of 9,030 Nepali students had submitted forms for giving the exams but only 7,358 students sat for the exams. Of the 299 foreign students giving the exams only 201 had given the exams. Only 33 foreign students were able to pass the entrance exams.

The IoM would be accommodating around 800 students, including foreign students, who have passed the exams on merit basis. Admission would start after the Tribhuvan University Executive Council gives its approval to the number of seats in all its affiliated colleges. As those who would be enrolled in the various medical colleges would be on a merit basis, it is expected that the quality of teaching in these colleges would be enhanced thereby producing qualified doctors who meet the international standards. The quality of medical education should not be compromised under any condition. It is up to the IoM to prove that its affiliated colleges are capable of producing qualified doctors. Merit should be the sole basis while enrolling students in medical schools which is not the case now which is getting worse with the politicization of medical education thereby harming the image of medical education in Nepal.

Food supply

Nepal Food Corporation is the government body responsible for management of food supply in remote mountainous districts where food scarcity is a perennial issue. There are several districts, mainly in the mid-western region, where the foodstuff is transported by air which consumes a large chunk of money from the government coffers. Although the government has been constructing roads leading to Jumla and adjoining districts the condition of roads is very pathetic which needs further widening and black topping to ensure smooth movement of vehicles, goods and people.

Due to lack of all-weather condition roads the cost for transporting food in this region by air is very high. Ferrying foodstuff by air is not a lasting solution. The government must invest in constructing roads to connect all remote districts which produce lesser food than they require for their survival round the year. If the roads are built the Himali districts will also be able to export fruits, vegetables, herbs, pulses and legumes to other parts of the country. The Nepal Food Corporation should also come up with a plan of purchasing their products at fair prices for their sustainability.