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| Kathmandu, Tuesday April 30, 2002 Baishakh 17, 2059. |
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Foreign doctors rue NMC
formalities
By Seema A Adhikari
KATHMANDU, April 29:Dr. Joram Ronel, a physician
from Germany who recently came to Nepal to conduct a free health camp for the rural folks
of this least developed country, did not feel anything bad during his week-long stay with
the rural poor. But he was very much annoyed when he had to pay Rs 5,500 while undergoing
the "so-called" oral exams conducted by the Nepal Medical Council (NMC).
The annoyed doctor, who came all the way from
Central Europe said, "They bothered us although we volunteers came to help the poor
rural folks in our own expense. It is not fair to pay such a hefty amount for the hardly
two-minute- long test."
Dr Ronel is not the only doctor. All foreign
doctors, who come to Nepal to serve the rural poor have to cough up the sum and go through
the ordeal. He is of the opinion that the NMC formality was just a harassment. "Had
they conducted longer exams, we would have something to convince ourselves."
However, NMC – the authorised government
body to conduct the exams for the foreign doctors willing to voluntarily provide medical
assistance – said the exam was a global tradition of which Nepal could not be an
exception.
Dr Shankar Pratap Singh, Registrar of the NMC
said the foreign doctors who come here for different purposes should be working under
already registered International Non-Governmental Organisation (INGO), Non-Governmental
Organisation (NGO) or a government body. "But before going to the field, they should
undergo an interview taken by the examination committee of the NMC," he said.
But, if the foreign doctors have come to teach
in medical colleges here, we have given full authority to the college administration.
"Such colleges have the sole authority to choose," Dr Singh told The Kathmandu
Post. "However, in case of those coming for medical camps, regardless of its status,
and other consultants, they have to undergo an oral exam from the NMC before participating
in the camp."
The doctors have to wait for at least one week
to get an NMC licence, according to him.
The fee is as per the policy of the umbrella
body of the country’s medics (Medical Council Act). The fee is Rs 3,000 for the
registration of one year and Rs 2,500 for the examinations. "Once paid, the same
doctor does not have to pay both the fees if he or she again comes to Nepal within one
year," Dr Singh said.
According to NMC records, around 1,686 doctors
have already come to Nepal from abroad. The purpose of the doctors differs –
consultant, volunteer, professors and interns. Every year an average of 400 to 500 foreign
doctors visit Nepal.
Most doctors coming to Nepal are from Germany,
United States of America and Japan. "But there are other several doctors from
different countries who come here to conduct free medical treatments to the poorest of the
poor rural folks," said another staff of the Council.
United Mission to Nepal, Nepal Oral Health
Society and Plan Nepal are the main organisations that bring the maximum number of foreign
doctors to Nepal. These organisations conduct several free medical camps every year.
However, Dr. Basanta Pant, neurosurgeon at the
Model Hospital said that the NMC should provide them with necessary opportunity rather
than just creating the formality to procure money.
"However, the fee for the licence is not
that costly as compared to foreign hospitals," Pant further said.
Dr Sussie Shrestha, another general surgeon at
the Bir Hospital, said, "Unlike in foreign, even learning young doctors coming from
abroad are allowed to treat patients here." However, in foreign countries," says
Dr Shrestha, "we are not allowed unless we undergo tough examinations in foreign
hospitals.
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