More than 40 first-year resident doctors from National Medical College in Birgunj, Madhesh Province, met with officials at the Ministry of Education and Sports, a federal ministry of the Nepal government, after 24 days of protest. The doctors presented their concerns and demands, citing excessive pressure from the college administration and a lack of a conducive learning environment.
During the meeting at Singha Durbar, the resident doctors shared challenges in their academic and professional lives with senior ministry officials. They urged the government to ensure a peaceful and respectful environment at the college so they can resume their studies without disruption.
Allegations of misconduct and unsupportive environment
The protesting resident doctors have accused National Medical College of excessive working hours, irregular stipend payments, and punitive practices. They also raised objections to mandatory use of college hostels, mess facilities, and Wi-Fi, strict biometric attendance rules, and the college’s control over their academic certificates. According to the doctors, the biometric attendance policy unfairly penalises them, as missing attendance for even a short period results in being marked absent for the entire day and losing their stipend.
Rahbar Ansari, a Member of Parliament for the Rastriya Swatantra Party and a resident of Birgunj, has accused National Medical College of obtaining approximately 25 postgraduate (PG) seats by presenting fake professors. Ansari also alleged that during an inspection by the Medical Education Commission, the college management presented security guards as patients and administered saline in the emergency room. The college, however, has denied these allegations.
The doctors, who stated they feel threatened and lack a proper study environment, have requested government intervention to ensure a peaceful and respectful atmosphere. They demand to resume their studies without interruption and to be allowed to study elsewhere, given they were sent to the college by the government after passing the Medical Education Commission’s examination.
Timeline of the protest and key demands
The first-year postgraduate resident doctors at National Medical College initiated their protest over working conditions and the study environment. They began a sit-in at the hospital on September 16 after a two-day ultimatum expired without an agreement. In response, the college on September 24 suspended all academic activities for first-year PG resident doctors, including classes, clinical postings, departmental training, ward, and emergency duties, and ordered them to vacate the hospital and hostel.
Following the college’s order, 40 of the 52 resident doctors travelled from Birgunj to Kathmandu. They staged a protest at Maitighar and reiterated their demands to relevant ministries and the Dean’s Office of the Institute of Medicine at Tribhuvan University. On October 2, MP Rahbar Ansari raised the issue in the House of Representatives.
The resident doctors have put forward a seven-point list of demands. These include the withdrawal of a defamation lawsuit filed against seven first-year resident doctors and the cancellation of disciplinary action against three resident doctors from the Obstetrics and Gynaecology department. They also demand that no resident doctor participating in the protest face salary cuts or discriminatory disciplinary action. The Nepal Medical Association has also urged the college to address the students’ concerns.
Ministry’s involvement and next steps
Shailendra Jha, adviser to the Education Minister, and other senior ministry officials were present at the meeting with the resident doctors. The doctors expressed confidence that the government would address their concerns and hoped for a positive intervention to resolve the issues.
National Medical College has faced controversy before. On October 25, 2019, MBBS students protested in Birgunj, alleging that the college administration charged fees higher than those stipulated.
