MBBS, BDS Fee Likely to be Hiked by 15 percent in Karnataka

According to the conversation various sources from the Department of Medical Education, a 15% hike for government seats and 25% for private seats is to be expected for the next academic session as the government considers the decision to repeat the fee hike, like last year.

A meeting was scheduled between Medical Education minister and the private medical college representatives on Thursday, 21^st October 2021, but had to be cancelled as the minister was busy with prior commitments.

This once again brings the issue of commercialization of education into the spotlight as private colleges demand a hike of 25% to 30%. A representative of a private medical college from Bengaluru, in a candid conversation with the Deccan Herald, said, "The deemed-to-be universities and private universities have the privilege to charge around Rs 12 lakh to Rs 15 lakh. We want the fee to be increased on par with them."

Additionally, it has also been revealed that this is the last year that the state government will bargain with the medical colleges. "From next year, the matter would be left to all-India level counseling by the Directorate General of Health Services, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Since this is the last year, in all probability, we are doing this, we might consider their demand and increase the fee in line with the previous year's agreement," added an official.

As of now, the existing fee structure for medical courses for government quota seats at a private medical college is Rs 1,28,746 and for private quota seats is Rs 9,81,956. This is as per the hike made during 2020-2021 academic year.

Similarly, the fee in private dental colleges stands at Rs 83,356 and Rs 6,66,023 for government and private quota seats, respectively.

It must be noted that the fee for undergraduate medical courses has increased by 200% in the last 10 years.