Allegations of labor exploitation against private medical colleges

Their organization is the coordinator of the Safe Workplace Struggle Committee for health workers. Sesharaj Ghimiri issued a statement and demanded to get subsistence allowance as prescribed.

It was agreed between the government and the committee to provide subsistence allowance to the students studying MD, MS, MDS, DM and MCH.

The Medical Education Commission decided to determine the seat in the educational institution only by ensuring that the allowance is given according to the agreement. But the medical college management said that they cannot give subsistence allowance. 8th level equivalent means 48 thousand 700 monthly subsistence allowance should be provided.

Private colleges have not filled the self assessment form for PG seat determination as they cannot give allowance. The commission had set a deadline to submit the form till last Friday. Seats have not been decided after the colleges did not submit the form .

Resident doctors have said that medical colleges are working continuously for 100 hours a week and at one time more than 36 hours in a row, contrary to the labor law. The tuition fee of PG is fixed at 23 lakh rupees. Dr. Ghimire said that even after taking tuition fees, he did not provide subsistence allowance. It is mentioned in the statement issued by him that doctors who are working and studying cannot be charged according to international practice. "Subsistence allowance is a financial right for services provided by residential and intern doctors, not under the supervision of educational institutions," he said.

Association of Private Medical and Dental Colleges of Nepal, the umbrella organization of private medical colleges, has said that there will be losses if subsistence allowance is given. The president of the association, Dr. Dr. Gyanendra Karki said. But resident physician Dr. Arun Upreti said that the medical colleges will not incur losses if they are given allowances according to the Labor Act. "Colleges and directors who violate the directives given by the state and create false comments, on the contrary, show excessive greed and engage in unfair bargaining, should be regulated and punished," he said .

Doctors say that if private medical colleges refuse to give allowances, the government should take all the responsibility of PG teaching. The resident doctors have warned to protest all over the country if they do not get the subsistence allowance as prescribed by the government.

MP Dr. at the House of Representatives meeting on Tuesday. Toshima Karki said that even in the private sector, they should get subsistence allowance equal to the 8th level . She also drew the attention of the government not to implement the said arrangement. He says that it is inappropriate to charge tuition fee in PG. "They are not just PG students, they don't sit in the classroom and study," she said, "They serve patients in the hospital day and night on duty." Is it possible to exploit labor because we cannot provide subsistence allowance?,' she questioned.

MP Karki demanded an answer saying why the government can't give subsistence allowance to the private sector while doing the same job. She said, "If the private sector cannot teach PG by giving allowance, then the program should be conducted in government hospitals and medical colleges." Out of 1200 PG seats, 700 students are studying in private schools.