TN : DME to launch helpline for excess medical fees related complaints; Health Secretary addresses NMC suggestions
Chennai: As a way of easing the process of raising complaints of excess fee collection for the medical students, the Directorate of Medical Education proposed the launch of a helpline solely dedicated to the purpose. Health Secretary J. Radhakrishnan raised the proposal on Tuesday during the inauguration of the foundation class for first-year students of Madras Medical College.
The state government is also contemplating on NMC's suggestion of offering 50% of the seats of self-financed and deemed institutes at the range of government fees.
Dr. Radhakrishnan stated that 90 percent of those who were assigned seats had already enrolled. However, some students in self-financing institutions had requested more time. The DME has given such medicos time until February 21 to submit their applications. According to him, 6,658 students have enrolled in MBBS and BDS programmes at self-financing, government, and deemed universities.
The official said the State has requested clarity from the National Medical Commission on whether it would execute the Commission's recommendation that all self-financing and deemed institutions should charge a government fee for 50% of their seats. The state had a procedure in place wherein a retired judge was appointed to the fee fixation committee, which sets fee guidelines to institutions, pursuant to a Supreme Court directive.
Dr. Radhakrishnan told The Hindu, " We have appealed to private colleges to not exceed the guidelines of the fee committee." NMC has already sent letter to all the medical colleges. Referring to the letter he further added, " We don't know if the Commission wants the implementation from the coming academic year or the current academic year. There is a fee committee for deemed and self-financing institutions. We have also sought clarification from the Central government."
He also added that they haven't provided any particular direction in the letter. Hence, state authorities will have to look into that because it also has a fee fixing committee and a procedure in place. He also stated that the state in no way wants to make any hasty decision and wants to explore the pros and cons of the NMC's recommendations.
A few days ago National Medical Commission (NMC) suggested that the code of ethics for medical practitioners, the Greek origin Hippocratic oath should be replaced by 'charak shapath' during the graduation ceremony of doctors in medical colleges. Commenting on the issue, Dr. Radhakrishna said there had been no official communication from the Union government or the Health Department regarding the matter.
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