Medical students await revision of fee structure

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 21

Students of Maharishi Markandeshwar Medical College (MMMC), Kumarhatti, in Solan have expressed resentment over the delay in the revision of fee structure for MBBS courses under the state quota.

They said the new government had announced to review all decisions taken by the previous government six months prior to the state Assembly polls, but nothing had been done in their case so far.

According to information, the fee for MBBA courses was increased in September-mid last year. A new fee structure was also approved for the next five year.

Earlier, the government had fixed Rs 5 lakh per annum as the fee for 50 per cent government quota seats. The students and parents had already been demanding a reduction in the fee. However, the government further increased it to Rs 7 lakh per annum for 2017-18, Rs 7.70 lakh for 2018-19, Rs 8.47 lakh for 2019-20, Rs 9. 31 lakh for 2020-21 and Rs 10.24 lakh for 2021-22.

This would mean that a student admitted under the state quota seat would have to pay Rs 42.73 lakh for the five-year course. It was Rs 25 lakh earlier. In case, hostel mess and other charges are added, a student would have to pay between Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 2 lakh extra.

Sources said no student from an ordinary family could afford such an hefty fee and would be forced to surrender the seat.

Notably, the MBBS course fee for government medical colleges has also been hiked to Rs 60,000 per annum from Rs 45,000 per annum for the first year, while for the second, third, fourth and fifth years, it has been increased to Rs 50,000 per annum from Rs 37,000 per annum. It implied that the total fee paid by a student for the entire course would be Rs 2.60 lakh.

Sources said there was a huge difference between the fee structure of government medical colleges and private ones. However, the government had failed to address the issue.The new government was expected to address the grievances of the students, but no action has been taken so far, leaving the students in the lurch.