Medical Education Commission (MEC)

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Background

As per provision of the National Medical Education Act 2075, in the context of the essence and spirit of the reports of the commission, committee and task force formed to improve medical education at different times.

Key functions

Medical Education Commission has been established to:

• increase the investment of the state in the field of medical education,
• develop medical education in line with the national needs of Nepal,
• regulate medical education in integrated and efficient way,
• organize the work related to the establishment and operation of medical institutions,
• maintain quality, professionalism, institutional accountability, geographical balance and social justice in medical education,
• ensure equal access of all students including the deprived.

The Act defines medical education as education of all disciplines and levels related to the health profession (Health Professional Education).

Related organizations

• Nepal Nursing Council (NNC)
• Nepal Medical Council (NMC)
• Nepal Health Professional Council (NHPC)
• Nepal Pharmacy Council
• Nepal Ayurvedic Medical Council (NAMC)

Formation

Designation	Position
Prime Minister	Chairperson
Education Minister, Government of Nepal	Co-Chairperson
Health Minister, Government of Nepal	Co-Chairperson
Appointed by Government of Nepal from among the doctors who have made special contribution in the field of medicine	Vice Chairperson
Member, National Planning Commission (Education and Health)	Member
Three vice chancellors from the University having medical education program	Member
Secretary, Ministry of education, Government of Nepal	Member
Secretary, Ministry of health, Government of Nepal	Member
Chairperson, University Grant Commission	Member
Vice Chairperson, Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training	Member
Chairperson, Nepal Ayurvedic Medical Council	Member
Chairperson, Nepal Health Research Council	Member
Chairperson, Nepal Nursing Council	Member
Chairperson, Nepal Health Professionals Council	Member
Chairperson, Nepal Pharmacy Council	Member
Chairpersons including at least one female from National level medical and nursing professional – 2	Member
Chairperson from a private educational institution association except medical and dental Organization – 1	Member
Distinguished members of civil society including at least one female – 2	Member
Chairperson, Nepal Medical Council	Member
Among medical education experts based on the principles of inclusion including at least two females – 3	Member
Chairperson, Nepal Medical Association	Member
Chairperson of private medical and dental college of national level official organization	Member
Senior staff of the commission	Member Secretary

Directorate

1. Standards and Accreditation: Monitoring and evaluation is an integral part of providing quality health education. If we strengthen the system of continuous scientific monitoring and evaluation, it will increase the quality of any academic programs. The Directorate of standards and accreditation is determined towards assuring quality and uniformity in medical education throughout the country by implementing worldwide accepted accreditation standards. Including the role responsibility and authority stipulated in the National Medical Education Act 2075 the role, responsibility and authority of the Directorate of standards and Accreditation are as follows:

• Set basic criteria for the necessary infrastructure in order to establish medical institutions and conduct educational program.
• Set basic criteria for the teachers’ eligibility.
• Work regarding teaching pedagogy and technology.
• Set accreditation standards for quality evaluation of medical education
• Work regarding the accreditation of universities and academias conducting medical education programs.
• Set standards of Medical Education sector’s curriculum, including quality and standard.
• Issue eligibility letter to those willing to go on abroad studies and fellowships including high level training on medical education.

2. Planning, Coordination and Academic Upgradation: Directorate of Planning, Coordination and Academic Upgradation has a role to formulate national health professional education policy and then, plan annual programs of medical education commission accordingly. In this connection, the directorate is responsible to estimate national human resource projection, production and consumption. The areas of coordination with the academia and government agencies includes the functions of letter of intent, fees structures and student seats of the colleges. Academic upgradation for quality improvement, expansion of new programs and research in medical education including teaching learning methodologies are other areas of roles and responsibilities of the directorate.

3. Examination Directorate: Examination is an integral part of education. If we strengthen the system of examination, it will exert enormous impact in the process and the product of any academic programs. The Directorate of examination is determined towards assuring quality and uniformity in medical education throughout the country by implementing robust system of examination.

In the present context, the major focus of the directorate is to conduct common postgraduate entrance examination at the earliest date, followed by that for undergraduate and super specialty (eg. DM/MCh) programs. The salient features of the entrance examination conducted by Medical Education Commission (MEC) would be:

• National common entrance examination to encompass all the academic institutions conducting medical/health professional courses so that students get rid of troubles due to several entrance examinations for the same academic programs and levels.
• Objective tests with technology-driven evaluation system with less human intervention.
• Merit based selection of the candidates among their choices through computer matching system.
• The merit is also applicable for pursuing National Board Specialty (NBS) degree to be conducted through MEC
• The pass score in the entrance examination is also a mandatory requirement for issuing eligibility certificate by MEC for pursuing the postgraduate courses abroad.

 4. National Board of Medical Specialties: National Board of Medical Specialties is established by Medical Education Commission Act; and is among one of the directorates established in Medical Education Commission. As per the Act its objectives is to establish the competency based specialty and subspecialty programmes in the country utilizing the expertise available beyond the existing universities and academia to fulfill the dire need of the specialists in the country .
For this purpose, the National Board of Medical Specialties will identify the prospective institution and faculties for starting the academic programme.

The institution and faculties will be accredited as per the standard set by Medical Education Commission and the specialty and subspecialty albeit superspecialty programmes will be skill based, supervised and will have innovative teaching-learning methodologies. It also includes the courses in ethics, communication skills, basic life support skills, research methodology, leadership skills, social community services and many more so that the prospective specialists are well acquainted in these aspects along with academic excellence.

Organization Chart

More information

Medical Education Commission
Sanothimi, Bhaktapur 44800, Nepal
016639414
info@mec.gov.np

Publications & related readings

• Medical Education Commission (MEC) Eligibility Certificate
• Syllabus for Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination 2020
• List of Registered Postgraduate Medical (Health Professionals) Programs in Nepal
• Medical Education Commission Syllabus for Postgraduate Entrance Examination (2020)
• Syllabus for Postgraduate Integrated Entrance Examination
• Syllabus for Bachelor in Public Health (BPH) Common Entrance Examination
• Syllabus for MBBS/BDS/BSc Nursing/BASLP/B Perfusion Technology Common Entrance Examination
• Syllabus for Bachelor in Nursing Science (BNS) Common Entrance Examination
• Syllabus for BAMS/BSc MLT/BSc MIT/BPT/B Pharm/B Optometry Common Entrance Examination

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