Fee Panel Recommends Implementing NMC Fee Order in Karnataka, State yet to take Decision

Bengaluru: While the Fee Regulatory Committee for Professional Colleges has recommended the implementation of the National Medical Commission (NMC) fee order in the private medical colleges and deemed-to-be-universities in Karnataka, the State Government is yet to act on it.

The Fee Panel, headed by Justice Subash Adi, has recommended the State for adopting the NMC fee order of fixing the fee for 50% of the seats in private medical institutes on par with government seats from this academic year i.e. 2023-2024.

While the term of the existing fee committee will end on June 18, the State has not taken any decision regarding this recommendation yet. There are altogether 23 government medical colleges, 7 deemed-to-be-universities, and 39 private medical colleges in Karnataka.

Last year, the National Medical Commission (NMC) issued a direction to all the private medical colleges in the country for charging fees at par with the government institutes for 50 per cent of the total seats. Issuing an Office Memorandum back in February 2022, NMC had mentioned, "After extensive consultations, it has been decided that the fee of the 50 per cent seats in the private medical colleges and deemed universities should be at par with the fee in the government medical colleges of that particular State and UT. The benefit of this fee structure would be first made available to those candidates who have availed government quota seats, but are limited to the extent of 50 per cent of the total sanctioned strength of the respective medical college/deemed university."

"However, if the government quota seats are less than 50 per cent of total sanctioned seats, the remaining candidates would avail the benefit of a fee equivalent to the government medical college fees, based purely on the merit," the Commission had added.

Also Read: MBBS, BDS fee not increased in four years: Karnataka Private Medical, Dental Colleges to submit proposal for fee hike to new Govt

However, challenging the NMC fee order, several private medical colleges approached the High Courts and the matter is also pending before the Supreme Court.

Earlier this year, Bihar Government also directed the self-financing medical colleges and deemed universities in the State for charging fees at par with the state-run medical colleges for the 50 per cent of the total seats.

According to the existing system in Karnataka, the State signs a consensual agreement with the managements of the private medical colleges for fixing the fees and share the seats in private medical colleges. 

As per the latest media report by The Hindu, the consensual agreement signed in 2022 clarifies that the seat-sharing ratio between the government and private medical college management is in the 40:60 ratio. However the fee structure for MBBS course varies from college to college.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported how referring to the fact that the medical and dental courses have not been increased in the last four years, the Karnataka Private Medical and Dental Colleges Association decided to demand a fee hike this year.

Meanwhile, the Fee Regulatory Committee headed by Justice Subash Adi has recommended for the implementation of NMC Fee Order in Karnataka, adds The Hindu. In this regard Justice Subash Adi said “We have already submitted the recommendation to the government, but there is neither any response nor any action from the government. Deemed-to-be-universities are claiming that they come under the University Grants Commission (UGC). But, the UGC has clarified that there is no such regulation, and the State can fix the fee. We have called a meeting with private medical colleges and deemed-to-be-universities, along with officials of the Medical Education Directorate. However, they are yet to respond. Therefore, in the interest of meritorious students, the government should take necessary action in this regard.”

NMC fee order met with opposition from the management of private medical colleges who had urged the Union Health Ministry for withdrawing the diktat. Since NMC did not withdraw the same, the order came to be challenged before the High Courts and the Supreme Court.

Association Of Health Sciences Institutes (AHSI) had made the plea before the Supreme Court andTake argued that the top court in various judgments had reiterated the fact that the method for fixing the fees, would be subject to considering various guidelines such as facilities available in the college, infrastructure, age of investment made, plans for expansion, etc.

Previously, while considering similar pleas, the Kerala High Court had clarified that the concerned Fee order will not be applicable in Kerala. Similarly, the Madras High Court had asked NMC to reconsider its decision and issue fresh guidelines as necessary. In its order, the Madras HC expressed concern over the possibility of several seats going vacant because of the high fees in the other 50 percent seats in the self-financed institutes.

Also Read: NMC Fee Order: Centre Seeks Two weeks' time to submit counter affidavit