KATHMANDU: The future of MBBS students who were sent back to Nepal from various Chinese universities during the initial phase of the coronavirus in Wuhan, China, two years ago, has become uncertain.

The future of as many as 153 MBBS students who went to study MBBS in 2015 has become uncertain due to the lack of apathy on the part of the Chinese government.

The students, rescued by the government of Nepal when the coronavirus infection rate was high in China, are in trouble as they have not been allowed to return to China to continue their studies even though the infection rate has become low and the situation has returned to normalcy.

They complain that neither they have been allowed to go back to China nor are they able to study at the medical colleges in Nepal.

Despite repeated protests by students to send them back to China or to make arrangements for their higher studies in Nepal, their demands have not been addressed.

Earlier, MBBS students had staged a sit-in at the Medical Education Commission demanding to be allowed to undergo an internship in Nepal.

The students have also complained that the Chinese government showed reluctance to issue visas to the students who came to Nepal during the coronavirus crisis, even though the coronavirus infection rate is low in China at present.

According to the provision of the Nepal Medical Council, an MBBS student cannot apply for the license to practice without undergoing an internship.

“Even though the Chinese government, which had earlier decided to allow only vaccinated citizens to enter China, did not issue visas to them even after the vaccination,” they complained.

According to a 2016 batch student, the government has not yet made a formal decision on the internship as well.

A student at Weifang Medical College in China, who insisted on anonymity, said, “Even though we have heard that the government has decided to address our demands, we have not been notified formally.”

Another MBBS student at Tinjang Medical University in China said that he lost one year due to failure to do an internship on time. 

Speaking to Khabarhub, he said, “After our movement, we feel that the government has taken some positive steps. But we are not convinced as no concrete decision has been made about our management yet.”

He said that even after more than two years of returning from China, they were still not hopeful that the government would be serious about their future.

According to him, the government has not been able to coordinate with the Chinese government.

The students further claimed that the government of Nepal has not held talks with the Chinese government despite repeated requests. 

Currently, as many as 153 students returning from China have demanded with the Ministry of Education and the Medical Education Commission to make arrangements to undergo an internship in Nepal.

The students said that they were upset as the concerned bodies have not taken any concrete move to address their demands.

Although they went to study in China with the government’s approval, the students say the authorities have been ignoring them.

According to the student, even though his classmates have already started practicing, they are still under stress to complete their studies.

Efforts being made to solve the problem: Joint Secretary Lamsal

Hari Prasad Lamsal, joint secretary at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, said that homework was being done to solve the problems of the students returning from China.

According to him, the proposal sent to the Council of Ministers by the Ministry of Education has been passed to solve the problems of the students. 

However, he acknowledged that since the exact number of the students was not confirmed, the government is working on it and will come up with a decision soon.

The Ministry of Education had sent a proposal to the Council of Ministers last week to allow the remaining students to undergo internship only after completing their studies and those who have completed their studies to undergo internship in Nepal.

“After the decision of the cabinet, the problem of students will be solved by coordinating with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Medical Council and Medical Education Commission,” he said.

Students of 2014 batch undergoing internship

Students of the 2013 and 2014 batches who studied MBBS in Chinese universities after returning from China during the coronavirus period have started undergoing internships in Nepal.

They got the opportunity to do an internship only after spending a long time in the movement demanding to get an internship in Nepal.

According to the Nepal Medical Council, the students of the 2013 and 2014 batches are currently doing an internship in various hospitals including Bir Hospital, Civil Hospital and Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital.