MBBS, PG Medical fee to get regularized in private medical colleges; MOHFW, MCI BOG on the Job

New Delhi: Bringing a sense of relief to medical aspirants across the country, MBBS, as well as PG Medical fee at various private medical colleges and deemed universities will be brought under control from the next academic session

In the light of the fact that the formation of National Medical Commission (NMC) to replace the existing Medical Council of India (MCI) may take some more time, the Union Health Ministry has asked the Board of Governors (BoG) to prepare draft guidelines for the fee structure in private medical colleges and deemed universities from the next academic session.

The same will form the base document, once the National Medical Commission (NMC) replaces the MCI

In its letter to the BoG, the Health Ministry said it has initiated the process of formation of the National Medical Commission, Medical Advisory Council and the four autonomous Boards and it is likely to take some time.

"The Commission on its constitution will also frame guidelines for determination of fee which may be enforced from the academic session 2021-22.

"It has been desired that the BoG may prepare draft guidelines for determination of fees and all other charges of 50 per cent of private medical colleges and deemed universities as envisaged under the NMC Act 2019 so that the Commission on its constitution may utilise the same and so that it can be enforced from the next academic session--2020-21 -- onwards for both UG and PG medical admissions," the letter read.

Meanwhile, the ministry has also asked private medical and dental colleges across the country to charge fee for only the first year from students at the time of admission.

The BoG, which is vested with the powers of the MCI, has now initiated consultations with states and sought their suggestions for framing draft guidelines for the fee structure.

The Board of Governors has been requested to prepare draft guidelines for fee regulation so that it can be used as a base document by NMC, a senior Health Ministry official said.

Once the NMC comes into being, the Medical Council of India will automatically get abolished. The president dissolved the Medical Council of India (MCI) in 2018 and a BoG was appointed to perform its functions.

Medical Dialogues has repeatedly reported about the rising fee at private medical colleges.

While earlier capitation fee was an issue, with the advent of NEET, the official MBBS fee at most private medical colleges skyrocketed, with the entire course fee even crossing Rs 1 crore in many cases. This is bound to create some financially burdened doctors, the government has repeatedly worried

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Both the Roy Choudhury Committee and the Parliamentary Standing Committee expressed concerns regarding the high cost of medical education for students and gave recommendations in favour of capping the fees.

However, given the fact that IMC Act, 1956 has no provision for the regulation of fees the erstwhile MCI refused to interfere with the MBBS fee structures at private medical colleges citing lack of mandate, which further became a bone of contention between the medical council and the government

With the takeover of the Medical Council of India by the Board of Governors, the government directed the BOG to come up with solutions, to tackle this growing problem.

The document so prepared by the BOG will be base for future policies as well

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