The Health Ministry has directed the Patan Academy of Health Sciences to conduct practical examination of all the 1,769 MBBS entrance candidates.

Based on the recommendation of the committee formed to investigate into the wrong results of the PAHS entrance exam, the ministry on Saturday directed the academy to hold the practical test.

In a list published a month ago, the PAHS accidentally mentioned wrong identification codes as those of students who have passed the entrance test. A subsequent review, however, found that the list was actually that of the students who had failed the test.

The ministry immediately formed a probe committee led by Dr Bhola Shrestha, chief of the Curative Service Division at the ministry. The team submitted its report to Health Minister Gagan Thapa last Wednesday.

“The probe committee had also suggested holding fresh entrance examination or rechecking the answer sheets. Both the processes would be time-consuming and could hit the academic calendar,” said Pratap Poudel, secretary to the health minister. 

“Hence, we have asked the institute to instead annul all the results that were published and take all the candidates who sat the entrance test for practical examination.”

Poudel said Minister Thapa, in his capacity as the PAHS pro-chancellor, would recommend action against the officials responsible for the blunder.

To avoid any more suspicion, the ministry also formed an independent committee to review the entire process. The panel is led by former education secretary Dipendra Bikram Thapa with Bijaya Mishra, a legal expert, and Sitaram Budhathoki, an examination expert, as members.

The results published on November 30 showed that 377 got through the exam out of a total of 1,852 candidates. Those listed as successful candidates were actually the ones who had failed the test.

In its report, the government panel has suggested three alternatives: conducting practical examination for all the 1,302 qualified students, letting an independent team of experts reevaluate the answer sheets that have been seized by the ministry or conducting a fresh entrance exam.

PAHS Dean Shreejana Shrestha said they were waiting for an official letter from the ministry before they can begin the new process.