Bagmati Province Reforms Driver's License Medical Testing, Ending Monopoly

Hetauda. The Bagmati Province government has ended the long-standing monopoly in the driver's license medical examination process by making it fully organized and technology-friendly.

With the implementation of the 'Procedure Guidelines for Providing Driver's License Services through Electronic Means, 2080' by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Transport, the irregularities previously prevalent in this sector have been eliminated.

In the past, the practice of selecting only one firm for a transport office led to service provider monopolies. Stakeholders noted that providers often charged exorbitant fees for minor issues, extorted large sums from individuals abroad or those with physical disabilities for fake reports, and engaged in unhealthy competition through middlemen.

The new system has addressed these issues to a significant extent. Specifically, it has completely ended the practice in Bharatpur where middlemen were charging up to 350 rupees.

Following the Bagmati Province Council of Ministers' decision on 2081 Jestha 22, a uniform medical examination fee of 175 rupees has been set across the province. The Ministry has recently listed 17 qualified service providers, allowing citizens to choose their preferred doctor or firm.

The Ministry stated that this provides service seekers with choices and creates an alternative if a service provider fails to perform.

Legal challenges to this process were resolved by a Supreme Court verdict, which dismissed a writ petition against the Ministry's call for applications, paving the way for reform. The process is now set to implement a fully automated and online-based medical examination service.

The Ministry has terminated agreements with previous service providers and assigned responsibilities to the newly listed institutions. A ministry official stated that with services now operating systematically from seven major locations, including Bharatpur, the practice of doctors and firms blaming each other to evade responsibility has ended.

The Ministry believes that medical examinations conducted under the direct involvement and supervision of specialist doctors will ensure the physical fitness of license applicants and have a positive impact on road safety.