DHAKA, May 12, 2025 (BSS) - Health Reform Commission has recommended shutting down substandard public and private medical colleges and creating opportunities for expatriate Bangladeshi students to return home to prevent brain drain.

The commission made the suggestion in its report submitted to the chief adviser on May 5. 

The report highlighted various recommendations, including 32 short- and medium-term proposals. 

It said comprehensive, policy-based and structural reforms are essential to improve the quality of medical education and achieve international recognition. 

The report suggested regular evaluation of medical colleges and universities based on public health needs, student-teacher ratio, institutional capacity, and global standards set by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME).

Based on the evaluation, the institutions should be restructured; the number of institutions and the available seats should be readjusted accordingly.

The report suggested when establishing joint-venture medical colleges and universities with internationally renowned universities, WFME standards must be ensured. 

The education structure should be improved by introducing a five-day academic week, so that student engagement increases and the workload on teachers decreases. 

Brain draining should be prevented by removing unnecessary barriers in the admission process for students studying through English medium and creating opportunities for expatriate Bangladeshi students to return to the country.

FCPS (Fellow of the College of Physicians and Surgeons) and MD (Doctor of Medicine) or MS (Master of Surgery) courses should be harmonized in terms of curriculum. 

Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) and Community Oriented Medical Education (COME) should be introduced effectively at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels so that students can achieve full competence in knowledge, skills and professional behavior.

In November last year, the 12-member commission was formed headed by Prof Dr AK Azad Khan, president of the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh.