KATHMANDU, Nov 6: Medical students on Tuesday demonstrated at Maitighar Mandala demanding the return of additional fees charged to them by the private medical colleges. The MBBS students carried placards and chanted slogans while encircling Mandala from 2 pm till evening. They also demanded legal action against the medical mafia.
Prakash Chand, coordinator of the Medical Education Struggle Committee, said that the students are hopeful to get back the additional money they paid to private medical colleges soon. Chand who recently passed out from Chitwan Medical College (CMC) said, “We are protesting to pressure medical colleges and government to end the game of the medical mafias and return the exorbitantly high fees charged to us”.
Heed the medical students
The issue has affected examinations of the second and third-year MBBS students. The exams have been postponed for an indefinite period. Earlier, the students had protested against this cause at their respective colleges. Now, they have come to the capital to put more pressure on the government.
Students of Chitwan Medical College (CMC), Bhairawaha Medical College (BMC), Universal Medical College (UMC), National Medical College (NMC) and Birgunj Medical College among others joined the protest on Tuesday. The protest is likely to go on till Thursday. "For now we have planned to protest in the capital till Thursday. Depending on further development we will take another decision," said Chand.
Despite persistent requests and pressure from the students, medical colleges have refused to return the additional fees charged to the students. According to the students, the issue has not yet drawn serious attention of the government. The students on Tuesday carried placards that read - “why is nation silent?”, “Do or Die, Now or Never”, “return the additional fee”,
“Guarantee the safety of health workers”, “education or business?” among others.
