End capitation fee in medical colleges: NMC

End capitation fee in medical colleges: NMC

27.05.2021

TOI Bangalore Edition 

Mumbai:

Almost two years after the National Medical Commission Act was passed, the commission has released draft guidelines on fixing fees in private and deemed medical colleges. Once these norms are passed, fees for 50% MBBS and PG seats in these colleges will be regulated, reports Yogita Rao.

The commission has listed over 25 guidelines, ranging from not charging huge sums as security deposits to not including all hospital expenses while computing the cost for providing medical education. It has disallowed capitation fees in any form and said colleges must adhere to ‘not-for-profit’ model.

Parents: Rules will bring relief to many meritorious students

Parents say once implemented, the rules will bring relief to thousands of meritorious students who cannot pursue medical education in private and deemed colleges due to the steep fees. In Maharashtra, private colleges charge up to Rs 16 lakh per annum and deemed colleges charge up to Rs 25 lakh per annum as fees.

“It is already two years, and we hope these draft regulations are implemented before the next academic session begins,” said a health ministry official.

The guidelines state that only operating cost should be primarily considered to determine fees. “The fees can be fixed for a block of three years or on a year-to-year basis and should remain the same for the entire duration of study, subject to inflation adjustment,” the draft said. Fees in newly established colleges should be decided on an ad-hoc basis, based on the fee structure of a recently established college in the state. “Since the expenditure in the Covid-19 pandemic year will not depict the true picture — as hostel and mess expenses dropped, and expenses in hospitals and doctors’ allowances and salaries went up — the state fee regulatory body can consider the average financial result of the previous three years,” said the statement.