Once disregarded for its backwardness, the remote district of Jumla has now emerged as a preferred choice for medical studies, drawing 104 students from across Nepal this year.

The Karnali Academy of Health Sciences (KAHS), based in Jumla, offers prestigious programs such as MBBS, BNS, BPH, B-Pharm, and B.Sc Nursing. This institution has reshaped the narrative of a region once plagued by a dire shortage of doctors and healthcare facilities, transforming it into a hub of academic excellence and hope for the future.

This remarkable transformation has turned Karnali into a center for producing medical specialists, with KAHS achieving a 100% success rate in Medical Council licensing exams. Its reputation has drawn students not only from nearby regions but also from developed districts like Kathmandu, leaving behind more accessible institutions to seek quality education in Jumla.

Suraj Upadhyay, a BPH student from Kanakasundari Rural Municipality-5 in Jumla, highlighted this shift: “There was a time when we had to pack heavy bags and travel to Kathmandu for higher studies. Now, students from Kathmandu are coming to Jumla with equally heavy suitcases to pursue their dreams in medical science.”

Pratiksha Gyawali from Kathmandu, now an MBBS student at KAHS, shared that she chose the institution for its impressive teaching standards and effective management. “The remote location might surprise some, but the quality of education here surpasses many expectations,” she said.

According to Assistant Professor Om Prakash Kafle, coordinator of the fourth-year program at the School of Public Health, the new batch includes 43 MBBS students, 15 BPH students, 14 B-Pharm students, 17 B.Sc Nursing students, and 15 BNS students.

KAHS’s growing appeal is a testament to how an institution once overlooked has now become a beacon of medical education, fostering talent and bridging healthcare gaps while contributing to the development of the Karnali region. -- (With inputs from RSS)