More doctors leaving Nepal than joining local workforce, council data reveals

June 23, Kathmandu: The number of medical doctors seeking careers abroad has officially outpaced those registering to practice within Nepal, highlighting an accelerating brain drain in the country’s healthcare sector. According to the Nepal Medical Council, the number of doctors acquiring a Good Standing Certificate—a mandatory document for exploring professional or academic opportunities overseas—has surpassed new domestic licenses so far this year, mirroring a critical trend observed throughout 2025.

In 2025 alone, 2,390 doctors obtained the Good Standing Certificate to move abroad, while only 2,122 domestic practice licenses were issued by the council during the same period. Acting Registrar Dr. Dipendra Pandey stated that limited career advancement, low pay, and poor perks at the medical officer level inside Nepal serve as major push factors driving this exit.

Since 2020, over 11,000 Nepali physicians have applied to migrate, primarily targeting foreign employment over further studies. The United States remains the top destination, drawing nearly 3,000 Nepali doctors over the last six years, followed closely by the United Kingdom, the Maldives, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates. Overall, Nepali medical professionals have migrated to twenty-three countries in pursuit of better career opportunities. This is Wireless Flash News.