Seats Distribution For Public Health in Nepal (2077/78)

Medical Education Commission (MEC) has recently published the seats distribution for different undergraduate programs for academic year 2077/78. According to the seats distribution, there are altogether 1420 seats in 37 colleges across all universities of Nepal. For being eligible eligible to study Public Health in Nepal or even to go to foreign country for study, one needs to pass Medical Education Common Entrance Examination (MECEE) which will be held as soon as possible as per MEC. MECEE has been in halt due to increased COVID-19 cases in Nepal during the second wave. As soon as the cases decline and lockdown eases, the examination will be conducted.

Since nearly 1500 graduates of BPH will be coming out every year, it has become a matter of concern whether or not these individuals be properly utilized in different aspects of Public Health to strengthen overall Health System of Nepal. As of present scenario, it seems the production of graduates outweighs the employment opportunities. Whether or not one will be getting employed after completing BPH is a major topic of concern nowadays. But, let's hope that the importance of public health to improve and sustain the health system of the country will be realized soon. 

Regarding scholarship seats for this academic year, nothing official has been posted. There is a rule that 75% seats of government colleges and 10% seats of private colleges will be taken as scholarship seats. And, roughly calculating, around 200 seats might come for scholarship in academic year 2077/78. Let's wait for official notice regarding scholarship seats and hope MECEE will be conducted very soon.

For detailed seat distribution: https://www.mec.gov.np/np/detail/seats-for-bachelors-level-program-2021

 

Understanding Pubic Health and Beyond

The most frequent question that comes in the mind of every student wanting to join Bachelor’s in Public Health (BPH) is whether they’ll get job or not, is BPH worth studying, can we earn sufficient money, what actually are the scopes of BPH, in fact what is Public Health?

Q. What actually is Public Health?

Ans: Let’s first get to know the definition of Public Health given by CEA Winslow. Public health is the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health and efficiency through organized community efforts . The main definition is so much clear and broad that it includes the scope of BPH and many other things. Public health especially deals with Prevention and Promotion of health rather than the Curative Health Service. It exactly follows the saying “Prevention is better than Cure.” So, without going much into details, for the general understanding, public health deals with disease prevention, life prolongation and health promotion.

Q. What are the scopes of Public Health?

Ans: Like it is mentioned in the previous answer, public health especially deals with disease prevention, life prolongation and health promotion, so we can say that everything that is done to achieve good health comes under the scope of public health. For example, activities done for disease prevention like awareness, advocacy, planning, etc. can also be done by a Public Health graduate. Also, activities falling under life prolongation like reduction of risk factor of disease and moreover programs conducted for health promotion come under Public Health.

Different fields of interest can be Nutrition, Epidemiology, Disease control, Research, etc. A Public Health graduate can work with different NGOs and INGOs working in these and many other sectors.

 Q. What should we study in BPH, what are the course contents?

Ans: You’ll be studying the basics of Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Pharmacology, Microbiology, Entomology, Biochemistry, etc. Epidemiology is considered as the backbone of Public Health. Other subjects you’ll encounter during your 4 years of course are like Biostatistics, Environmental Health, Public Health and Primary Health Care, Sociology and Anthropology, Mental Health, Population Studies, Public Health Administration, etc.

For further details the syllabus of BPH can be found in following links:

1. Tribhuwan University

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1z6SgbxCULNFoyECMADuEKHPmDNVmcK64/view?usp=sharing

2. Purbanchal University

https://drive.google.com/file/d/14UbmVtDYxP4bknlFMnx-883Nm7tKaLdm/view?usp=sharing

3. Pokhara University

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hiFMXbKtsV5dFrM4dGLVXcLd6OKquLCa/view?usp=sharing

Q. What can we do after completing BPH?

Ans: You’ll have few options after completing BPH. Firstly, you can give the examination for Public Health Officer (PHO) taken by Public Service Commission (PSC/Loksewa). If you’re able to clear this examination, you’ll be having government job and be posted as PHO in a district of Nepal. This is 7^th level officer job. Also, there are some seats in Department of Health Services and other such government bodies.

Next thing that can be done is being associated with some Non-governmental Organization or International Non-governmental Organization working inside of outside Nepal that belong to your area of interest like Nutrition, health promotion, etc.

Another thing you can do is pursue your Master’s degree i.e. Master’s in Public Health (MPH, general) or Master’s in specific subjects like Master’s in Public Health and Nutrition or Master’s in Health, Population and Environment or different such degrees in the universities inside or outside Nepal. Not only in Public Health but also Master’s in other subjects like Population Studies, Rural Development, etc. can be studied depending upon your field of interest.

There might be different other possibilities which can be further explored like being a researcher, teacher and others.

Q. How much will I earn after BPH?

Ans: If you’re able to be PHO through Loksewa, you’ll be earning around Rs. 40,000 per month and also there will be other government services similar to other offices.

While working in the NGOs and INGOs, they’ll have their fixed time period for a project for which you’ll be hired and will be paid accordingly.

You’ll be paid according to your skill, knowledge and what and where you’re working.

Q. People say that there is no scope and you’ll be unemployed after completing BPH, is it true?

Ans: The above mentioned scopes of BPH are enough to prove that BPH is worth studying. If you’re talented and determined to do something in the sector of Public Health, there is no reason to be afraid of. As you’ve to struggle to get something, you’ll also have to struggle more to get what you want. People after studying BPH are earning name and fame while some aren’t. So, it’s you who should decide what you want. It you’re determined, there is no one/nothing stopping you.

So, if you’re the one wanting to enter, already entered or one who has completed BPH, it’s your time to shine and do something really worthy in the sector of Public Health, not only for the people of Nepal but for the entire human beings throughout the world.

Getting into BPH (Bachelor in Public Health)

First of all one needs to be eligible to give entrance exam. The eligibility criteria for Common Entrance Exam (CEE) as per Medical Education Commission (MEC) is given below:

a. Passed 10+2 Science (Biology Group) or Equivalent securing at least 50% separately in Physics, Chemistry and Biology with 50% aggregate in total marks OR Secured at least C+ grade separately in Physics, Chemistry and Biology with at least C grade in remaining individual subjects along with GPA 2.4 OR Secured the grades equivalent to above eligibility in regards to the certificate level programs (A-Level) with different grading system OR

b. Applicants who have passed the Health Science Proficiency Certificate Level/ Diploma in respective PCL program (General Medicine, Medical Lab Technology, Ophthalmic Science, Dental Science, Pharmacy, Ayurveda, Nursing, Radiography, Physiotherapy) with at least 50% aggregate in total marks. AND

c. Registered in Nepal Health Professional Council or Nepal Pharmacy Council, Nepal Nursing Council or Nepal Ayurveda Council as per related educational program.

In short, examination will be 200 marks (1 mark for each question) where 40 questions will be asked from Physics, Chemistry, Botany and Zoology each and 20 questions each from Pre-requisite Health Knowledge (Basic Concepts) and Mental Agility Teat (MAT). The pass mark will be 100 (i.e. 50%) and there will be no negative marking.

For detailed syllabus: http://mec.gov.np/en/syllabus

Currently, 3 universities: Tribhuwan University (TU), Pokhara University and Purbanchal University in Nepal are running BPH programs under which there are many college inside and outside valley. There are 5 colleges in TU which have BPH Program.

a) Central Department of Public Health (CDPH, IOM)

b) Manmohan Institute of Health Sciences (MMIHS, Kathmandu)

c) Gandaki Medical College (GMC, Pokhara)

d) Chitwan Medical College (CMC, Chitwan)

e) Universal College of Medical Sciences (UCMS, Bhairahawa)

Scholarship schemes are different for different universities here in Nepal. Pokhara University and Purbanchal University have different scholarship scheme, details of which can be known from their respective colleges. For, TU the whole scholarship process was carried from Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST).

75% scholarship (75% of total seats) was allocated in Central Department of Public Health (CDPH, IOM) whereas rest of the colleges in TU provided 10% of total seats for scholarship. 55% of seats are for general category and 45% are for reserved category.

Total Scholarship Seats for BPH in TU = 46 (31 for General Science (GS: +2 Bio group) & 15 for Health Science (HS))

a) In CDPH = 15 HS (8 general + 7 reserved) & 15 GS (8 general + 7 reserved)

b) In 4 other colleges = 16 GS ( 9 General + 7 reserved), no scholarship for HS.   

For details visit: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aEU-qBxNd0j4YeKeX3ETVnLGQJlfE6kN/view?usp=sharing

Common Entrance Exam (CEE) is going to be started from this year which means there might be new seat distribution and scholarship scheme provided by MEC. Regarding the choice of university or college, it is not yet clear, it might be according to rank of choice could be made while filling form for CEE. For that, let’s wait until MEC publishes the details and keep studying.