Nepal Medical Association opposes PhD requirement for top university positions

The government’s recent decision to require a PhD as the minimum educational qualification for appointments to high positions such as university vice-chancellors has drawn serious attention from the Nepal Medical Association.

In a press release, the association expressed dissatisfaction, stating that the provision was introduced without considering the unique nature and current state of medical education. It clarified that in Nepal, MD, MS, and MDS degrees are recognized as high-level qualifications in the medical field. Given the limited number of institutions offering PhD programs in medical disciplines, the association believes that making a PhD mandatory would deprive many qualified and senior professors who have been serving for years of opportunities.

The statement noted that this decision would be a significant injustice to experienced specialists in the medical field. According to the release issued by the association’s General Secretary, Dr. Sanjiv Tiwari, senior professors holding MD, MS, and MDS degrees are currently involved in teaching and supervising students at the DM, MCh, and PhD levels.

Therefore, the association has strongly urged the government to recognize MD, MS, and MDS as the highest educational qualifications in the fields of medicine and dentistry.