Relief for students and parents; medical fees to be hiked up to six percent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Justice KK Dineshan committee, which rejected the demand of the managements for hefty fees for MBBS, allowed a maximum hike of six per cent in fees over the previous year, much to the relief of parents and students. There will be no hike in fees in the NRI quota. This is the fee for the year 2022-23. The National Medical Commission had directed that the fees should be calculated based on the operational cost of the colleges.

Thrissur Jubilee Medical College has been sanctioned a hike of 5.76 percent. Tuition fee-Rs 7,34,852, first-year special fee- Rs 63,214, Remaining years special fee- Rs 17,296, Hostel fee- Rs 74,878. The committee rejected the college's demand to increase special, hostel and NRI fees.

For other colleges, the fees will be determined by taking into account the operational cost, audited income-expenditure figure, number of students and central and state price index.

At present, the fee for 85% of seats in self-financing medical colleges ranges from Rs 6.61 lakh to Rs 7.65 lakh. There will be a special fee of up to Rs 86,600. Around 20 lakhs can be charged for NRI seats.

The National Medical Commission had directed that the government college fees (Rs 27,580) should be charged for half the seats in self-financing medical colleges. The managements approached the High Court against this and obtained an order to continue the existing practice. The Christian Professional College Management Federation also approached the High Court to speed up the determination of fees in the four medical colleges of the federation. On April 11th, the court ordered the fee determination committee to determine the fee within two weeks.

Managements want 11 lakhs

The managements are asking for a fee of up to 11 lakhs in 2023-24. They are arguing they will not be able to look after the running and development of the college if they charge a lesser fee. However, the Dinesan Committee's stand is that it will not allow a hike in fees that will harm the students.

4100- total MBBS Seats

1455- seats in Govt Medical Colleges

2745- seats in 19 self-financing colleges and deemed university