Introduction
B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS) was established on Jan 18, 1993 and subsequently upgraded as an autonomous Health Sciences University on Oct 28, 1998 with a mandate to work towards developing socially responsible and competent health workforce, providing health care & involving in innovative health research. The Institute, located in Eastern Nepal, has extended its continued health services through teaching district concept to Primary Health Care Centers, District Hospitals and Zonal Hospitals in different districts of the region. This University is aptly named after Bisheshwar Prasad Koirala, Nepal’s visionary leader in social uplifting, firm believer of national integration.
This Institute is envisaged as one of the successful examples of Nepal-India co-operation. The Health Ministers of the two countries signed the Indo-Nepal agreement for establishment of BPKIHS on the Hindu auspicious day of Mahashivaratri (Mar 10, 1994).
BPKIHS has a vision of a self-governing, self-reliant international Health Sciences University attracting students and teachers from all over the world to its constantly innovative educational programs. BPKIHS has also been envisioned by the Nepali Parliament as a centre of national importance to produce skilled health workforce to meet the country’s need and also to function as a centre of excellence in the field of tropical and infectious diseases. Its best example is the ongoing Kala-azar Project in collaboration with international bodies. BPKIHS has postgraduate, undergraduate, and university certificate programs and from this year starting Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program. It has four colleges: Medical, Dental, Nursing, and Public Health with a 700-bedded Central Teaching Hospital. The medical college has well-established major clinical and basic science departments.
Postgraduate programs (MD, MS, and MSc) were started in 1999. All the MD, MS, MDS, MSc and MPH degrees awarded by BPKIHS are recognized by Nepal Medical Council and respective councils of Nepal. The MD/MS degrees (anesthesiology, clinical pharmacology & therapeutics, dermatovenerology, ENT, internal medicine, orthopedics, pediatrics, psychiatry, radiodiagnosis, and surgery) are recognized by Medical Council of India (MCI). Similarly, there is continued effort for getting MCI recognition of other disciplines as well. While selecting candidates for MD/MS/MDS postgraduate studies, the institute has given due recognition to the medical graduates who have served in the primary health centers and /or district hospitals.
The School of Public Health was established in 2005, and it runs a two-year MPH program. The MSc Nursing Program (in Community and Psychiatry Nursing) was started in 2008. Medical Councils of Nepal, India and Sri-Lanka have recognized the MBBS program since its inception in 1994. It is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools published by the WHO.
The Institute started BDS program in 1999, which is recognized by the Nepal Medical Council. Our BDS graduates are allowed to sit for Dental Council of India screening test to pursue MDS courses in India. The duration of both BDS and MBBS is 4½ years followed by a one-year of Compulsory Community Oriented Residential Rotating Internship, which is mandatory to be completed in BPKIHS Central Teaching Hospital and its Teaching District Hospitals. This feature is new and unique in this part of the world and has been commended around the globe.
B.Sc. Nursing and University Certificate Nursing (staff nurse) programs are well recognized and the alumni sought after within and outside the country. Nepal Nursing Council recognizes all the nursing degrees. There are separate college complexes for all constituent colleges in the BPKIHS campus.
Nepal Health Professional Council recognizes the health science courses allied to medicine. In addition, BPKIHS organizes short-term academic programs/refresher courses for national and international students, doctors and faculty members. Continuing medical education on various aspects of health is a culture at BPKIHS.
This University aims at becoming center of excellence in patient care, teaching, and health sector research. It is following an integrated and holistic model in academics and services. The institute is committed to its social responsibility and accountability. The institute has provisions for admission to different underprivileged groups/sections of the society in different academic programs.
The Institute has innovative approach of community-based training of students, and providing services to the local people through the concept of Teaching District Hospitals (learning by doing at community level). Accordingly, students of various programs visit and/or are posted to the health institutions under faculty/specialist supervision where on one hand they get opportunity to learn in the community set-up; and on the other hand, the local health institutions get regular qualified health workforce to provide the quality services by a BPKIHS team of faculty/specialist and interns. The institute has given special attention to uplifting rural women from the marginalized communities.
Faculty of Medicine
Faculty of Medicine is a multidisciplinary faculty fulfilling the mission of medical education, hospital services and research interests that span the translational spectrum; basic subjects to their clinical and social implications.
It comprises of both undergraduate and postgraduate (MD/MS/MSc/MPhil and PhD) programmes in various basic to clinical specialties.
Every year around 180 UG & PG candidates are taken into our programmes and provided with necessary knowledge, skills and adequate exposure to make a difference in whatever they do; undertake basic or clinical education, patient centred care or research in future, making them the health care persons our nation needs.
College of Dental Surgery
College of Dental Surgery, BPKIHS has come into existence on August 1999 as a pioneer of Dental Education in Nepal. The College is committed to contribute towards providing dental surgeons who are knowledgeable, skilled and compassionate, and at the same time equipped with leadership and teaching abilities. This College is also providing quality oral health service to the people of Nepal considering health statistics and national health policy of Nepal. The College was started at previously existed old buildings located at south point of campus with 74 dental chairs with all minimum requirements. The College shifted to its new building on 7th February 2004. Area allotted for the College is 6.77 hectares and total build up area is 120000 Sq. ft. The building has all infrastructures which are required for smooth functioning of a dental college and hospital. We believe this hospital is a model dental college and hospital of this country. At present the college has 131 dental chairs with all other major equipments like OPG, RVG, IOPA, Phantom heads, Central Air Compressors, LP Gas supply unit etc.
College of Nursing
College of Nursing, B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS) is a pioneer Nursing Campus in Nepal. It was initiated in 1993 A.D. In 1996 first time in Nepal Four years Generic Bachelor Nursing Programme (B. Sc. Nursing) was started with intake of 20 students. At Present in BPKIHS there is 3 years M. Sc. Nursing in all five specialty (Medical-Surgical, Psychiatric, Community Health, Maternal Health, Child Health), which is unique in world. Besides M. Sc. Nursing there are 4 years B. Sc. Nursing, Bachelor in Nursing (BN) and Certificate Nursing Programme. The PhD Programme is in pipeline. B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS), established in 1993, is an autonomous Health Sciences University with the mandate to work towards developing socially responsible and competent health work force. Striving continuously to meet the health needs of the Eastern Region of Nepal in primary, secondary and tertiary levels is its primary responsibility. The University Campus has 699 acres of land. It has been divided into teaching hospital complex, residential complex, golf course, playgrounds and protected forest area. Accommodation is provided to all faculty members, doctors, nursing staff, officers and other technical staff in the campus. The University has its own water supply system and backup power supply system.
- B.Sc. Nursing : 4 years
- M.Sc. Nursing : 3 years
OPD Services
Out Patient Department (OPD) Services at BPKIHS runs daily from Sundays to Thursdays (Full time) and on Fridays (half day). The OPD runs for half a day on selected Public Holidays too.
Patients get services through General OPD and Special OPD at BPKIHS. Patients get comprehensive care at the general OPD and are referred to special OPD if specialized care is needed. Special OPD comprises of all major and minor departmental services including services from the Dental College. Super-speciality services are also run by departments.
OPD Services are provided for general check-up and comprehensive care; Pediatric and adult chest, heart, gastro-hepatic, neurological and endocrinology; general and specialized surgery; female health problems and obstetrics care; skin and sexually transmitted diseases; mental health issues and de-addiction; pre-anaesthesia check-up Orthopaedic check-up and surgery; head, neck, ear and nose clinic; eye clinic and whole range of oral and maxillofacial services.
Super-Specialized care is provided by each department in the form of super-speciality clinics. Medicine OPD runs tropical and infectious disease clinic, adult chest clinic, cardio clinic, diabetes and endocrinology clinic and gastro-enterology and hepatology clinic. Urology and Gastro-biliary surgery are run as different super-speciality clinic under General Surgery. Well baby clinic, immunology clinic, Nephrology, Neurology and Genetics clinics are run by the Pediatrics department as a part of enhancing super-speciality care. Infertility clinic is run by the Gynaecology OPD. Vertigo clinic is run by the ENT OPD. Separate Leprosy, Allergy, Sexually Transmitted Disease, Dermatosurgery and cosmetology, pigmentary, pediatric and geriatric skin disease clinics are run by the department of dermatology. Pain clinic is run by Anaesthesiology. Ophthalmology OPD runs Glaucoma, Cornea clinic, Diabetes and Retina clinic.Super-specialized services have been made available by the department of Orthopaedicsin form of Spinal surgery, Hip surgery, Knee surgery, orthopaedic oncology, pediatric orthopaedics, Traumatic surgeries, Illizarov Procedures, Bone marrow densitometry and Rehabilitation services.
Physiotherapy and rehabilitation, Speech Therapy, Yoga clinic and De-addiction clinics are also fully functioning at BPKIHS. With an average of around 1000 patients per day at OPD, the service remains the busiest but nevertheless most effectively run with the presence of the huge manpower and expert consultants and experienced staffs.