HRD to consult Health Min on medical college fees

The Central government is trying to bring the exorbitant fee charged by private medical colleges under check. This comes after a Madras High court ruling prompted University Grants Commission (UGC) and Human Resource Development Ministry (HRD) to form a committee for fee regulation.

However, there are many technicalities involved in getting all colleges under the same fee regulation. The UGC has written to the HRD Ministry asking them to consult the Ministry of Health and Medical Council of India in this regard since these institutions are responsible for medical education in the country.

There are over 34 deemed private institutions in the country that offer medical courses. Earlier they would conduct their own entrance examinations. But after NEET all institutions take admission through a single test. However, some students were unable to get admission in Puducherry-based private institutions after the institution allegedly charged exorbitant fee from them. The students went ahead and filed a petition in the Madras High Court. The court in its order on June 16 has asked UGC to form a committee to look into the matter of fee regulation.

A meeting in this regard was held in the HRD ministry, last week. According to sources in the ministry no consensus could be formed on in the issue as a section of officials feel that it is difficult to bind all private institutions by a single rule. “By fixing a fee cap, we will allow an institution not doing so well and charging lesser to charge a higher amount in the name of the rule. Hence we will have to work out the technicalities in detail before we can come up with a fee regulation rule,” said a source.

Even though the Medical Council of India keeps issuing letters to private institutions at regular intervals, to adhere to fee guidelines set up by the government, many institutions charge more in the name of capitation fee and other things.