High MBBS fees pushing students abroad? Centre says states fix fee structure

New Delhi: The Minister of State for Health, Prataprao Jadhav, recently informed the Lok Sabha that MBBS fees in government and private medical colleges vary from State to State and are fixed according to the guidelines of the respective State Fee Regulatory Authorities.

The reply came after a question was asked to the Minister on whether Indian students are forced to go abroad to study medicine due to high fees, especially in private colleges, and the difficult admission process in India.

"In order to make medical education affordable and accessible in the country, the fee structure of Government medical colleges is subsidised. In accordance with the provision of the Constitution (103rd Amendment Act, 2019), there is a reservation of 10% in UG/PG medical seats for economically weaker sections of the society," the Minister replied.

MP Ramprit Mandal also asked whether the Government plans to make medical education less expensive and more accessible for students from economically weaker sections.

In response, the Minister said that guidelines were issued by the National Medical Commission (NMC) on February 3, 2022, under the NMC Act, 2019, to regulate fees and other charges for 50% of seats in private medical colleges and deemed universities. However, these guidelines have been challenged in various courts and are currently subjudice.

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He further said, "The fee structure for MBBS course differs from State to State in Government / Private Medical Colleges as per the guidelines issued by concerned State Fee Regulatory Authorities. Further, Government continuously endeavours to make medical education more affordable and prevent its commercialization. In order to make medical education affordable and accessible in the country, the fee structure of Government medical colleges is subsidized. In accordance with the provision of the Constitution (103rd Amendment Act, 2019), there is a reservation of 10% in UG/PG medical seats for economically weaker sections of the society."

The Minister also informed that 157 new medical colleges have been approved in different districts across the country. In addition, support has been given to strengthen and upgrade existing State and Central government medical colleges to increase MBBS and PG seats under another Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS). Under these schemes, 4,977 additional MBBS seats and 8,058 PG seats have been approved across the country.

"The government has made concerted efforts on expanding the medical college infrastructure under various CSS Schemes over the last decade so that medical education becomes more affordable. The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare administers a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for ‘Establishment of new medical colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals’ with preference to underserved areas and aspirational districts, where there is no existing Government or private medical college," the Minister said.

As per data from the National Medical Commission (NMC), the number of medical colleges has increased by 111.36%, from 387 in 2013-14 to 818 at present, said the Minister. 

According to him, MBBS seats have increased by 151.18%, from 51,348 before 2013–14 to 128,976 at present, while postgraduate (PG) seats have increased by 172.63%, from 31,185 before 2014 to 85,020 currently, thereby contributing to improved accessibility to medical education.

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