The Institute of Medicine (IoM) has said that delay in endorsing allocation of seats to colleges the Tribhuvan University has jeopardised the admission process of its medicine programme.

The IoM had sent the list with the total number of seats allocated to the seven affiliated private medical colleges, seeking an endorsement from the TU Executive Council for this academic year over two months earlier. But the council is yet to give its decision on the matter. 

The council has to endorse the total seats before the IoM can begin counseling of the students who have passed the entrance examination.

“We are already too late. It’s been four months since we sent the document for approval,” said a senior IoM official. “What is more shocking is the inconsiderate attitude of the TU office bearers.”

For this year, the IoM has allocated 100 seats each to Universal College of Medical Sciences, Bhairahawa and Nepal Army Academy of Health Sciences, Kathmandu. Similarly, 90 seats each have been allocated to National Medical College, Birjung; KIST Medical College, Lalitpur; Chitwan Medical College, Chitwan and Gandaki Medical College, Pokhara. Also, 80 seats have been allocated to Janakpur-based Janaki Medical College. 

With many private medical colleges understood to be lobbying in a bid to increase the number of seats to at least 100, there are suggestions that the council was under pressure to increase their medical seats. 

TU office bearers, including Rector Sudha Tripati, were not available for comment. 

Amid the ongoing delay in the endorsement of the seats, the IoM issued a public notice on Friday, asking students to register for open-house counseling. A counseling session lets the students choose a medical college based on merit.

“We hope that the TU will endorse the seat allocation by January 10 so that we can start the counseling,” said IoM Dean Dr Jagdish Agrawal.

But there are suggestions that it was a pressure tactic on part of the IoM to get its recommendation approved by the TU. Dr Agrawal did not comment on the matter. 

The admission process for this year has been delayed by over two months after multiple investigations confirmed that question papers of the entrance test held on October 14 had been leaked. Over 15 examinees were arrested from the examination hall for using medical devices to cheat in the test. The IoM conducted the test again on December 2. 

Only students who pass the entrance test are eligible to apply for private medical colleges affiliated to the IoM.