B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS)

BPKIHS was established on Jan 18, 1993, and upgraded as an autonomous Health Sciences University on Oct 28, 1998, with a mandate to develop socially responsible and competent health workforce, provide health care, and engage in innovative health research. The Institute, located in Eastern Nepal, extends its health services through the teaching district concept to Primary Health Care Centers, District Hospitals, and Zonal Hospitals in different districts of the region. It is named after Bisheshwar Prasad Koirala, Nepal's visionary leader in social uplifting and national integration.

This Institute is envisaged as one of the successful examples of Nepal-India co-operation. The Health Ministers of the two countries signed the Indo-Nepal agreement for the establishment of BPKIHS on the Hindu auspicious day of Mahashivaratri (Mar 10, 1994).

BPKIHS has a vision of a self-governing, self-reliant international Health Sciences University attracting students and teachers from all over the world to its constantly innovative educational programs. BPKIHS has also been envisioned by the Nepali Parliament as a center of national importance to produce skilled health workforce to meet the country's need and also to function as a center of excellence in the field of tropical and infectious diseases. Its best example is the ongoing Kala-azar Project in collaboration with international bodies. BPKIHS has postgraduate, undergraduate, and university certificate programs and starting this year, a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program. It has four colleges: Medical, Dental, Nursing, and Public Health with a 700-bedded Central Teaching Hospital. The medical college has well-established major clinical and basic science departments.

Postgraduate programs (MD, MS, and MSc) were started in 1999. All the MD, MS, MDS, MSc, and MPH degrees awarded by BPKIHS are recognized by the Nepal Medical Council and respective councils of Nepal. The MD/MS degrees (anesthesiology, clinical pharmacology & therapeutics, dermatovenerology, ENT, internal medicine, orthopedics, pediatrics, psychiatry, radiodiagnosis, and surgery) are recognized by the Medical Council of India (MCI). Similarly, there is a continued effort for getting MCI recognition of other disciplines as well. While selecting candidates for MD/MS/MDS postgraduate studies, the institute has given due recognition to the medical graduates who have served in the primary health centers and/or district hospitals.

The School of Public Health was established in 2005, and it runs a two-year MPH program. The MSc Nursing Program (in Community and Psychiatry Nursing) was started in 2008. Medical Councils of Nepal, India, and Sri-Lanka have recognized the MBBS program since its inception in 1994. It is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools published by the WHO.

The Institute started BDS program in 1999, which is recognized by the Nepal Medical Council. Our BDS graduates are allowed to sit for the Dental Council of India screening test to pursue MDS courses in India. The duration of both BDS and MBBS is 4½ years followed by a one-year of Compulsory Community Oriented Residential Rotating Internship, which is mandatory to be completed in BPKIHS Central Teaching Hospital and its Teaching District Hospitals. This feature is new and unique in this part of the world and has been commended around the globe.

B.Sc. Nursing and University Certificate Nursing (staff nurse) programs are well recognized, and the alumni sought after within and outside the country. Nepal Nursing Council recognizes all nursing degrees. There are separate college complexes for all constituent colleges in the BPKIHS campus.

Nepal Health Professional Council recognizes the health science courses allied to medicine. In addition, BPKIHS organizes short-term academic programs/refresher courses for national and international students, doctors, and faculty members. Continuing medical education on various aspects of health is a culture at BPKIHS.

This University aims at becoming the center of excellence in patient care, teaching, and health sector research. It is following an integrated and holistic model in academics and services. The institute is committed to its social responsibility and accountability. The institute has provisions for admission to different underprivileged groups/sections of the society in different academic programs.

The Institute has an innovative approach to community-based training of students and providing services to the local people through the concept of Teaching District Hospitals (learning by doing at community level). Accordingly, students of various programs visit and/or are posted to the health institutions under faculty/specialist supervision where on one hand they get an opportunity to learn in the community set-up; and on the other hand, the local health institutions get regular qualified health workforce to provide the quality services by a BPKIHS team of faculty/specialist and interns. The institute has given special attention to uplifting rural women from marginalized communities.