Manipal College of Medical Sciences (MCOMS), Pokhara was established in 1994 with an MBBS programme. MCOMS was the first private medical institute in Nepal established after liberalization in 1990. MCOMS was conceived after an agreement between Government of Nepal and Manipal Education and Medical Group MEMG in 1992. The MBBS program began in December 1994 with temporary recognition by Nepal Medical Council and Affiliation to Kathmandu University. The first batch passed final MBBS in July 1999 and completed internship in July 2000.
Western Regional Hospital back in 1996 known as Gandaki Zonal Hospital was initially used for clinical teaching purposes. Green Pastures Hospital and Regional Tuberculosis Center are being used till date partially. The 700-bed Manipal Teaching Hospital (MTH), Pokhara was inaugurated in 1998 by Shree 108 Jagat Guru Shankaracharya. Prof. Dr. O.P Talwar was the first Medical Superintendent of MTH. It was enriched to 865 beds with expansion of services in Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Surgical Oncology.
Courses
MBBS Duration: Five and half years (4+1⁄2 years + 1-year internship)
MD/MS : 3 academic years
MSc (non-clinical) : 2 years
BSc Nursing : 4 years
PCL Nursing : 3 years
Language of instruction: English
Classes begin: August
20% of the seats are reserved for Government of Nepal nominated candidates. Another 50% of the seats are offered to Nepalese candidates in the payment category. Besides students from Nepal, MCOMS attracts students from India and Sri Lanka. MCOMS also trains students from United States, Canada, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Tanzania, Kenya, and the Maldives. About 60% of the students are men and 40% women.
Postgraduate courses are available in basic science subjects and all clinical disciplines. The postgraduate program MD in Pathology began in 1998 and MD/MS in clinical disciplines began in 2007. A residency program is conducted in the hospital with rotations in WRH. On completion of three academic years and on fulfillment of all university requirements including thesis and exam, the candidate is awarded MD/MS degree. The duration of the MD/MS program is three years and the M Sc in non-clinical subjects is two years.[1]
Facilities
MTH is the largest hospital in Western Nepal and serves as tertiary care referral center.
Subspeciality services
Cardiology: Facilitated with noninvasive cardiac Lab with Echocardiography, TMT, Holter and ABP. Four bedded CCU with monitoring facilities. DM (Post-Doc in Cardiology) began in Feb 2013. Cardiac catheterization laboratory for invasive procedures has been installed in 2015.
Neurosurgery: Facilities for elective and emergency neurosurgery. The department consist of an OT dedicated for neurosurgery and eight bedded Neuro-surgical ICU with ventilator and monitoring facilities.
Gastroenterology and Hepatology: Diagnostic and treatment facilities with intensive care. Routine Diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy services.
Cardiothoracic surgery: CTVS unit is run by 1 CTVS Surgeon, Thoracic surgeries without CP by-pass are being done routinely, CP By-pass installation is proposed.
Critical care
Medical ICU: 12 beds
Surgical ICU (post-op): 8 beds
Neuro Surgical ICU: 8 beds
Cardiac Care Unit: 4 beds
Pediatric ICU: 8 beds
Neonatal ICU: 16 beds
All 50 ICU beds have central oxygen supply, cardiac monitors, central Arterial Blood gas analysis with mechanical ventilators. NICU has incubators, photo therapy, CPAP and ventilators.
Telemedicine
Department of Internal Medicine, Manipal Teaching Hospital in collaboration University of Illinois, Chicago with technical support of Binaytara foundation runs a weekly Telemedicine session.[2] MTH is the first institute in the country to have a program of such kind. Telemedicine is part of a Medicine Resident's academic activity.
Affiliations and recognitions
An institution of the Manipal Education and Medical Group (MEMG), Nepal.
Established in 1994 and the first batch graduated in 1999. Since then every year one or two batches have graduated.
Most of the students have passed their postgraduate entrance exams/international exams i.e., Medical Council Exams of United States (USMLE), UK (PLAB), Australia, South Africa and Sri Lanka.
MTH runs residency (MD/MS) in clinical and non clinical disciplines and elective programmes.
Poor Patient's Fund (PPF)
Also known as Asha(आशा), it is a Non-governmental organization(NGO) which is run by the students (mainly the 5th semester MBBS students). Funds are raised by the students by organizing movie shows, dances, college fetes, sales of T-shirts and sweat shirts, donations from the students and faculty, etc. The fund is utilized for the treatment of those patients who are unable to afford it on their own.
