Patan Academy of Health Sciences

Patan Academy of Health Sciences (PAHS) is a public not-for-profit tertiary academic institution dedicated to improving Nepal's rural health by training health workers for rural Nepal.

The history of Patan Academy of Health Sciences (PAHS) can be traced back to the early 1970s, when the United Mission to Nepal (UMN), an international Christian organization, founded Shanta Bhawan Hospital as a pioneering autonomous hospital to serve the underprivileged people of Nepal. In 1982, the hospital merged with Lalitpur Hospital to form Patan Hospital, still under the management of UMN.

With the growth of the for-profit private medical schools in Nepal since the mid 1990s, Patan Hospital was approached by several of the private medical colleges to become a teaching hospital. However, the hospital leadership was not interested in partnering with a for-profit institution. Instead, they envisioned creating a public not-for-profit medical school that would be dedicated to improving the health of rural Nepal.

In 2002, the leadership of Kathmandu University Medical School (KUMS) approached the Patan Hospital leadership to discuss a potential partnership. Both institutions had much in common, and they were excited about the possibility of working together.

After several years of planning, PAHS was established in 2008 with the charter granted by the Parliament of Nepal. The academy's first class of medical students began their studies in 2010.

PAHS has grown rapidly since its founding. PAHS is committed to producing health workers who are competent, compassionate, and committed to serving the rural population of Nepal. The academy's graduates are highly sought-after by hospitals and other healthcare organizations throughout the country.