Prime Minister Oli Directs Resolution of Dispute Over Resident Doctor Facilities

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has instructed relevant ministries and agencies to resolve the ongoing dispute regarding facilities for post-graduate (PG) resident doctors in medical colleges through mutual discussions.

At the 15th meeting of the Medical Education Commission, held at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar, Oli, who chairs the commission, directed Minister for Education, Science, and Technology Bidya Bhattarai, Minister for Health and Population Pradeep Paudel, and the commission’s Vice-Chairman, Prof. Dr. Anjani Kumar Jha, to reach a balanced decision to address the issue.

The dispute centers around a commission notice, based on recommendations from the Ministry of Health and Population, which required private medical colleges to provide PG resident doctors with a facility of Rs. 48,000 per month. The deadline for compliance, set for November 26, has prompted resistance from private colleges citing financial concerns.

During the meeting, Dr. Gyanendra Man Singh Karki, President of the Association of Medical and Dental Colleges of Nepal, urged the Prime Minister to intervene. He argued that unilateral decisions to grant resident doctors the same subsistence allowance as government medical officers would strain private colleges.

Prime Minister Oli called on the commission to consider the financial implications for private medical colleges while addressing the demands of the resident doctors.

In addition to resolving this dispute, the commission also discussed key agendas, including the progress report of the previous fiscal year, policy revisions for the current fiscal year’s budget and programs, letters of intent, transfer of ownership, and scholarship schemes.

The decision is expected to set a precedent for balancing the rights of resident doctors and the operational sustainability of private medical institutions. Further deliberations are anticipated in the coming days.