Miscellaneous
Govt makes public Mathema committee report
Over a month after the submission of the report, the government has finally made public the Mathma Committee Report on Health Profession Education Policy on Tuesday.Ekantipur Report
The report has been made public at the official site of the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.
A high-level committee formed to formulate a national health education policy headed by former Tribhuvan University Vice-chancellor (VC) Kedar Bhakta Mathema had submitted its report amidst a programme at Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar on June 29.
The cabinet committee on social affairs had on Tuesday decided to make the report public amidst brewing criticism of the government from various quarters.
A statement released by the Prime Minister's Office states that a committee chaired by member of National Planning Commission with education, finance and health secretaries as members to develop an action plan of the policy in next 30 days.
The report has suggested decentralising medical colleges, setting up new entry standards for medical courses, and fee structures, among others. Putting a moratorium on new medical schools in Kathmandu Valley, the committee has asked the government to relocate the institutions that have already built infrastructure for medical education even if by purchasing their property.
The Prime Minister’s Office had formed the committee on November 17, 2014 to draft the policy in response to one of Dr Govinda KC´s demands that a panel, comprising experts from the medical sector, be formed to formulate a national medical education policy.
Following Dr KC’s demand, affiliations to medical colleges was stopped till a new health policy is drafted based on the recommendation of the Dr Kedar Bhakta Mathema -led Committee.