PCL in General Medicine-Health Assistant (HA)

PCL in General Medicine (Health Assistant) at NAMS College Kathmandu

The PCL in General Medicine (Health Assistant) at NAMS College Kathmandu is a three-year health science program conducted under the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT).

The program follows a yearly academic system and prepares middle-level health personnel through classroom study, practical learning, clinical exposure, primary health care, and community field practice. The current curriculum is the third revision, issued in 2024.

Key Highlights

• Three academic years under the yearly system.

• CTEVT curriculum with the third revision issued in 2024.

• Entry routes include SEE/SLC or equivalent and CMA-equivalent qualifications under prescribed criteria.

• Applicants must pass the entrance examination administered by CTEVT.

• Major study areas include medicine, surgery, primary health care, family health, health education, environmental health, epidemiology, and health management.

• Third-year training includes comprehensive clinical and community field practice.

• A minimum of 90% attendance in each subject is required for the respective final examination.

• General Medicine at NAMS is associated with the Nepal Health Professional Council (NHPC).

Course Facts

The curriculum is organized over three academic years, with 35 academic weeks including the evaluation period under the yearly system.

Eligibility and Entrance

Applicants entering through SLC, SEE, or an equivalent qualification must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 and grades in Compulsory Mathematics, English, and Science. The curriculum also permits entry through a CMA-equivalent qualification with a minimum of 68.33%.

Passing the entrance examination administered by CTEVT is required for admission.

Curriculum and Areas of Study

The curriculum combines clinical medicine with primary health care and community-based health subjects. Its academic areas include Medicine I and II, Gynecology, Surgery I and II, Basic Medical Procedures and First Aid, Clinical Pathology, Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Environmental Health, Health Education, and Primary Health Care/Family Health.

Later study also covers Health Management, Epidemiology and Community Diagnosis, along with comprehensive clinical and community field practice. Surgery-related study includes general surgery, orthopedics, physiotherapy, ENT, dentistry, and ophthalmology, while Medicine II covers areas including pediatrics, neonatology, psychiatry, and dermatology.

This combination prepares students to connect clinical assessment with preventive health, family health, health education, referral decisions, health-service administration, and community health work.

Clinical and Community Learning

Practical learning forms a substantial part of the program. The third-year Comprehensive Clinical Practicum runs for 16 weeks, covering 96 working days excluding Saturdays. Clinical placements cover emergency care, medicine, surgery, clinical pathology observation, pharmacy and pharmacology, maternity and obstetric/gynecological care, family health, basic medical procedures, and physiotherapy.

Community diagnosis work introduces students to household and community assessment, health-related data collection, community mapping, basic epidemiological analysis, and interpretation of community health conditions.

At NAMS College, academic study is supported by laboratories, a library and e-library, multimedia-equipped classrooms, counseling and guidance, and the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Evaluation.

Skills Developed Through the Course

The program develops knowledge and practical ability related to patient assessment, provisional clinical decision-making, identification of referral cases, health education, primary health care, family health, community diagnosis, basic health investigations, medical record keeping, and health-service management.

Its objectives also cover common emergency situations, maternal and child health, nutrition, family planning, national health programs, supervision, reporting, and administrative work at the level for which Health Assistants are trained.

Completion and Career Path

Students who pass all components of all subjects across the three years are awarded the Proficiency Certificate Level in General Medicine.

The curriculum identifies graduates as eligible for positions equivalent to Non-gazetted First Class/Level 5 technical posts as prescribed by the Public Service Commission of Nepal and related agencies. Actual recruitment depends on the requirements and vacancies of the employing organization.

Health Assistant graduates may work within clinical, hospital, primary health care, and community health settings according to the scope of their qualification and applicable professional requirements.

NHPC Licensing

General Medicine is associated with the Nepal Health Professional Council (NHPC). NAMS has offered the three-year PCL in General Medicine program since its establishment in 2001 A.D. (2058 B.S.), with General Medicine linked to CTEVT and NHPC.

After completing the course, graduates must meet the applicable NHPC licensing requirements before entering regulated professional practice as a Health Assistant.