Kathmandu: Nepal Mediciti has become the first hospital in Nepal to have hosted the prestigious Member of Royal College of Physicians (MRCP) UK Practical Assessment of Clinical Examination Skills (PACES) exam as a pilot project in collaboration with the Federation of Royal College of Physicians, United Kingdom.

Twenty four doctors from across Nepal took the examination held on 7th and 8th of September. The MRCP (UK) Clinical Examination (PACES) is designed to test the clinical knowledge and skills of doctors who hope to enter higher specialist training.

The examination was conducted under the global standards laid down by the Federation of the Royal College of Physicians, United Kingdom. There were five stations through which the candidates were assessed for their knowledge, clinical skills, ability to respect patient’s autonomy and communication.

Dr. Upendra Mahato, Chairman, Nepal Mediciti expressed that Nepal Mediciti is very proud to host the MRCP pilot exams along with the Royal College of Physicians (UK). This is a very prestigious exam that not only evaluates the students’ clinical expertise but also looks at patient safety issues and soft skills including communication which is needed for a doctor to be a successful consultant. It is also a great path for young doctors to obtain a valuable Post Graduate degree which is in severe short supply in our country.

Dr. Tanzeem Raza, Dr. Donald Farquhar, Dr. Satyan Rajbhandari, Dr. Fiona Clark, and Dr. Graham Curry, representatives of the Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom, announced the successful completion of a two-day pilot examination for the clinical part of MRCP (UK) at Mediciti Hospital in Kathmandu. This marks a significant step toward establishing a dedicated examination center. It is hoped that this center will not only serve the needs of trainee physicians in Nepal but also benefit candidates from neighboring South Asian countries.

MRCP (UK) is a globally recognized qualification for Physicians. Acquisition of this qualification certifies that a trainee physician has acquired appropriate knowledge, skills and attitudes to serve their patients as the best qualified physicians. The standard of this examination will be exactly the same as it is in the United Kingdom.

Currently many aspiring physicians have to travel to the UK in order to take this examination and complete attainment of MRCP (UK) qualification. Opening of a centre for this examination in Nepal will help all such physicians to complete it locally.

Members of the visiting team from the United Kingdom thanked the local hosts and the administration of Mediciti Hospital for arranging a successful pilot examination and it is hoped that this will lead to a long term partnership between the Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom and Mediciti Hospital Kathmandu.

Dr. Neeraj Joshi, Sr. Consultant, Nepal Mediciti, who spearheaded the MRCP PACES in Nepal Mediciti, said, “Given the high standards of this examination, the PACES centers have to fulfil certain fixed academic criteria before being awarded the PACES centre status. Nepal Mediciti has been able to fulfil all of them during this ‘’Pathfinder visit’, It also allows Nepalese doctors to apply for higher specialist training in various specialties in the UK, once they complete this examination.

The opening of MRCP exam centre in Nepal Mediciti will open up new opportunities for postgraduate training and obtain an internationally recognized degree without any extra cost. This will help us fill the gaps for dearth of specialist doctors in Nepal in the long run.’’