Fee for MBBS, MD, MS, PG Diploma, BDS, MDS, Nursing courses reduced at Raja Muthiah Medical College, allied institutes

Following the GO by Government on Thursday, the fees of Raja Muthiah Medical College and its allied institutes- Rajah Muthiah Dental College and Hospital and Rani Meyyammai College of Nursing would be the same as other Government medical colleges and institutions of Tamil Nadu. Now, for tuition fees, MBBS students would have to pay Rs 13,160, BDS students Rs 11,610, BSc (nursing), BPT (physiotherapy), and BOT (occupational therapy) Rs 3,000, and M.sc nursing students Rs 5,000 per annum.

The Government has reduced fees for the post-graduation courses as well. So, hereafter, the fees for MD, MS, and MDS would be Rs 30,000 every year and for postgraduate diploma courses the fees would be Rs 20,000.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the students of the medical institution had been protesting against the hefty medical fee charged for medical and dental courses for almost 50 days but then the authorities instructed that all the classes would remain suspended for undergraduate and postgraduate students till further notice. The authorities also clarified that 'unauthorized stay' in either the campus or the hostel would not be entertained.

Within a few days of the authority's decision to shut down the college campus, the Tamil Nadu government had made a momentous move to take over Rajah Muthiah Medical College in Chidambaram. Following this, the college came under the ambit of the state Department of Health and Family Welfare, from January 27. The college also got affiliated to the Dr. MGR Medical University after this takeover.

Previously, RMMCH and its affiliated institutes had charged the students Rs 5.6 lakh per annum for MBBS course, Rs 9.6 lakh per annum for MD/MS courses, Rs 3.5 lakh per annum for BDS course, and Rs 7.8 lakh per annum for the MDS course, adds the Times of India.

As per the latest media report by EDX Live, the revised fee structure would not be applicable for the fees paid in the past. The GO, as reported by the daily, states, "The fee structure will be given prospective effect from the date of taking over the said college as government institutions. The earlier existing fees prior to taking over, already paid by the students will not be refunded or adjusted against future payments. The benefit of government fee structure as fixed from time to time will be extended to currently studying and forthcoming students."

The notice further added, "The Director of Medical Education is also directed to take immediate steps to take over the properties and liabilities of the said colleges 'as it is where it is' basis and send a detailed proposal for the same. The Director of Medical Education is further directed to take affiliation process for bringing the said institutions under the Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University, Chennai immediately."

The elated students expressed their thanks for the Government's decision. Expressing their gratitude to Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, the students told EDX Live, "It is joyful moment for the students now that 58 days of protests will be coming to end and only after we were able to achieve all our demands."

Some Twitter users have expressed their happiness in this matter as well. One user wrote, "First victory of 2021 after 57 days of struggle, government fixes fees Rajah Muthiah Medical College and Hospital more power & love to the students and the well-wishers."

Congratulating the victory and the peaceful protests of the students, another user wrote, "Peaceful protests for the right demands will always succeed!"