The Bangladesh Private Medical College Association (BPMCA) has asked the government to readjust the foreign student’s quota to 50%.
They said the government had abruptly cut 5% in 2022 and allowed private medical colleges to enrol maximum 45% foreign students within the total number of seats.
“But in the current economic context, we should allow more foreign students,” BPMCA President MA Mubin Khan said, while speaking at a FBCCI’s standing committee meeting.
MA Mubin Khan is also the chairman of the standing committee on healthcare, private medical college and hospital and nursing sector management of the apex business chamber, said a statement on Monday.
He said the private medical colleges were contributing to the economy by bringing foreign currency.
They presented statistics of the Indian High Commission and said about 12,000 Indian students are studying in different medical colleges from first year to internship level.
For that, Bangladesh could earn over $200 million in foreign currency which is much needed in the current context.
Besides, students from other South Asian countries also study in Bangladesh's medical colleges.
The BPMCA president also suggested creating health tourism scopes in Bangladesh by encouraging local and foreign entrepreneurs to set up specialized hospitals of international standards in the country.
He suggested allowing quality medical equipment in the country at zero duty.
Currently, 67 private medical colleges have over 6,500 seats.
The government argued that the 5% foreign student's quota cut was meant to allow more local students.
President of FBCCI Mahbub Alam, and FBCCI’s director in-charge Priti Chakraberty also spoke at the meeting, among others.
