Why CIB Arrested Dr. Chetana Paudel: The Medical Controversy Explained

4th July 2026, Kathmandu

The line between a certified health professional and an unauthorized practitioner in Nepal has blurred into a national debate.

Following a recent high-profile arrest by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), the medical and digital spaces are asking one fundamental question: Who legally gets to use the title “Doctor” in Nepal?

CIB Arrested Chetana Paudel

This controversy goes beyond a single individual; it exposes a massive, systemic contradiction between Nepal’s governing medical laws.

The Arrest That Sparked a National Debate

On Ashar 9, the CIB arrested Dr. Chetana Paudel, a registered naturopathy practitioner, from the Spark International Health Resort in Chandragiri, Kathmandu.

The Charges Filed by the CIB

• Using the unauthorized title of “Dr.” without holding an MBBS/MD equivalent recognized by the Nepal Medical Council.

• Conducting blood tests on patients without being registered with the Nepal Medical Council (NMC).

• Prescribing allopathic (modern) medicine without authorization.

The arrest, executed based on an NMC investigation report, triggered an immediate backlash from alternative medicine associations.

The Counter-Argument from the Medical Fraternity

The Yog and Naturopathy Doctors Association, Nepal, quickly condemned the arrest as “unjust and illegal.” According to Association President Dr. Janak Bahadur Basnet, Dr. Paudel is not a “fake doctor.”

She holds a BNYS (Bachelor of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences) degree from the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences in Bengaluru, India.

Her educational qualifications have received Tribhuvan University (TU) equivalence, and she is formally registered with the Nepal Health Professional Council (NHPC). The Indian Naturopathy and Yoga Graduates Medical Association (INYGMA) has also expressed deep concern over the incident.

The NMC’s Zero-Tolerance Policy on the “Dr.” Title

This arrest did not happen in a vacuum. Exactly one month prior, on Jestha 7, the NMC issued an urgent public notice declaring a zero-tolerance policy against the unauthorized use of the “Dr.” prefix.

The directive gave all non-NMC registered health professionals 15 days to remove “Dr.” from their:

• Signboards and prescription pads

• Visiting cards

• Social media profiles

The Penalty: Violators face prosecution under Sections 26 and 27 of the Nepal Medical Council Act, 2020, which carries a penalty of up to three years in prison, a fine of 3,000 Rupees, or both.

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Dr. Paudel’s arrest marks the first major enforcement of this crackdown, turning a local medical dispute into a national legal showdown.

Understanding BNYS: A Short Training or Proper Medical Education?

To understand the nuance of this debate, one must understand what a BNYS degree actually entails. It is not a short-term training package or a simple diploma.

Duration: A 5.5-year full-time undergraduate medical program, including a one-year compulsory rotatory internship.

Curriculum: Students study core modern medical sciences, including Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pathology, Microbiology, Pharmacology, and Community Medicine, alongside specialized Naturopathy and Yogic sciences.

Dismissing a BNYS graduate as “unqualified” is factually incorrect. However, having a rigorous academic degree does not automatically grant the legal right to practice modern allopathic medicine or use medical titles under current Nepali law.

The Legal Paradox: “Registered for Service, Unrecognized in Identity”

The root of the issue lies in a direct institutional clash between two distinct pieces of legislation:

This creates a frustrating paradox: State mechanisms register these professionals to provide health services, yet alternative laws label them as potential criminals for using the titles associated with their degrees.

While alternative practitioners argue that “Doctor” is an academic title granted by their universities (similar to a Ph.D.), the NMC Act firmly maintains that no university degree automatically grants the right to clinical practice or patient care under the “Dr.” designation without NMC registration.

The Global Perspective: Where Does the WHO Stand?

Proponents of alternative medicine often cite the World Health Organization (WHO) Traditional Medicine Strategy (2014–2023).

The WHO encourages member states to regulate, research, and integrate Traditional & Complementary Medicine (T&CM) into national healthcare systems.

However, the WHO strategy does not automatically grant Naturopaths the title of “Doctor” or equate them to allopathic physicians. It leaves the specific legal frameworks, titles, and scopes of practice entirely to the sovereign laws of each nation.

The Way Forward: How Can Nepal Solve This Regulatory Crisis?

Definitely resolving this conflict requires structured policy interventions rather than arbitrary arrests or total dismissals.

Establish a Separate Council: Nepal needs a dedicated “Nepal Naturopathy and Yoga Clinical Council” similar to the existing Ayurveda Medical Council to streamline registration, ethical standards, and code of conduct.

Define a Strict Scope of Practice: The Ministry of Health must clearly delineate what a BNYS graduate can and cannot do. Can they interpret lab reports? Can they prescribe specific baseline drugs? A clear boundary line is vital.

Formalize Title Regulations: The government should introduce distinct, dignified titles, such as “Registered Naturopathic Physician” or “Doctor of Naturopathy (N.D.)”, removing all legal ambiguity.

While health ministry discussions are reportedly ongoing, no independent bill has been formally registered in the Federal Parliament to resolve this vacuum. Until the law addresses this “registered but unrecognized” paradox, the system will continue to face institutional friction at the cost of healthcare clarity.

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