Laxmi Maharjan. 

Dr Chandra Prakash Chataut is an example of brain drain in the medical field.

The Dhaka University gold medalist of MBBS (Community Medicine) of the 1992 batch got King Mahendra Education Gold Medal in 1993 for his outstanding academic performance. 

And, in recognition of his service to the country, Dr Chataut got another medal in 1997 marking the Silver Jubilee of His Majesty King’s Accession to the throne. 

Recently, the state of Illinois honoured him with the Humanitarian Service Award in recognition of his contribution as a full time general internist in the division of General Internal Medicine, Stroger Hospital of Cook County in Chicago. 

These achievements notwithstanding, Dr Chataut is not content because his dream of serving his own country could not come to fruition. 

Like other doctors, I also dreamt of serving my country, but then hospital authorities failed to find the right place for me, said Dr Chataut, adding that he would be frequently transferred to various hospitals where there was no nephrology department. 

From 1995 to 199797, he worked at the Paropakar Maternity Hospital where there was no quota for nephrologists.

“I served the country without salary for two years and had no intention of going abroad. But the situation did not change and I had no option but to leave,” he said. Chataut said he is still ready to return home, if common sense prevails while deputing doctors. 

Dr Chataut is just a case in point. 

Lack of security, poor remuneration and limited opportunities for professional development, among others, have forced hundreds of doctors to leave the country, said Dr Kedar Narsing KC, immediate past president of the Nepal Medical Association. 

Many young Nepali doctors land in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia, said Dr KC. 

“This continuing trend has deprived our country of much-needed human resources in the medical sector,” he noted. 

Although the Interim Constitution recognises health as a fundamental right, governments have never bothered to give it due priority, he said. 

Though they are cream of the society, doctors are leaving the country as their salary is low, said Dr KC. 

A study on doctors’ migration, carried out by the Institute of Medicine and Nick Simons Institute-2011, attests to this. It shows that the proportion of medical students working overseas has increased over time. 

According to the study, 53.5 per cent from IoM batches, who graduated in 2003 and 2004 respectively, are working overseas. 

In 1982 -87, 13 per cent of doctors were working abroad, which grew to 38 per cent in 1988-2002. The proliferation of medical colleges and demand for donation to secure seats for post-graduate courses are also to blame for migration, said Dr KC.

However, Dr Damodar Gajurel, president of the Nepal Medical Council, says brain drain is not a new issue for Nepal as medical doctors are always in search of better opportunities.

The country’s 17 medical colleges are producing around 2,000 medical doctors every year, he said. Dr Gajurel blamed the government for the drain, saying it does not have a clear policy to stop the drain. 

The council has recorded about 12,600 cases so far. 

He further said they are preparing to re-register doctors so as to find out the state of medics in the country.

Published on: 22 July 2012 | The Himalayan Times