Agitating MBBS students of Chitwan Medical College (CMC) started padlocking the Education Unit of the college from Sunday, stating that the college has violated their agreement.

The students had ended their protest (which was launched on August 27) with the signing of an agreement in the District Administration Office on September 21. As per the agreement, the college had to return the extra money it had charged students or adjust their fees by November 4.

In a statement issued by Prakash Chand, coordinator of the Medical Education Struggle Committee, a body formed by agitating MBBS students, the protesting students are going to padlock the Education Unit until the college administration addresses their demand. Chand said, “As per the receipts collected by the students, the CMC has collected an additional Rs 220 million from MBBS students in the academic year 2017/18 and 2018/19. This amount should be adjusted.”

The agitating students have demanded that the fees of MBBS first- and second-year students be adjusted and the additional fees of MBBS third- and fourth-year students refunded. However, Dr Harish Neupane, a promoter of the medical college, said that the college will not be refunding any students, but will adjust the fees of MBBS students enrolled in the academic year 2018/19.

Tanka Prasad Chapagain, the coordinator of the Report Preparation Committee, said CMC has not provided the detail of fees which they collected from the students in the academic year 2015/16 and 2016/17. Chapagain said, “If this amount will be returned as per the agreement, then the college should return more than Rs 340 million to the students.”

The government had fixed Rs3.85 million for MBBS programmes inside Kathmandu Valley and Rs4.24 million outside the Valley in 2017. But the college has been charging a fee (examination and others) of up to Rs600, 000. According to the college operator, the college is going to exclude examination fees, Nepal Medical Council’s registration fee, organisation fee, community fee, internship fee, internal exam fee, hostel fee and meal charges for MBBS first-year students (who were enrolled in the academic year 2018/19). Only Rs 200,000 will be saved if the college cut off these fees. According to Neupane, they are only adjusting that amount.

However, students are not satisfied with the college’s decision. “We are fixed on our positions and demands. But the college administration is not being serious towards these issues,” said Chand, adding that they will continue the protest.

Universal College of Medical Sciences padlocked

RUPANDEHI: On Monday, MBBS and other medical students of the Universal College of Medical Sciences in Bhairahawa, Rupandehi, padlocked the college administration building demanding the college refund the additional fees it had charged students within 24 hours. The students allege that the college has been charging them a total of Rs300, 000 more than what is declared by the government. According to the students, exam fees have also been risen by up to Rs10, 000. Even intern doctors have warned they will stop working for the hospital if the college administration doesn’t address their demands. Educational and administrative works have been highly affected due to the protest.