The determination of fees for self-financing medical colleges often leads to controversies and complaints every year. It is common practice to set higher fees and then reduce them. There are 19 self-financing medical colleges in Kerala. Admission to a medical course is a dream come true for any science student. The profession of a doctor is given a high status in the society. Hence, everyone is trying to get medical admission and complete the study no matter how much money is spent. Despite getting high ranks in NEET exams, several poor students are forced to give up medical courses as they don't have enough money to pay fees worth lakhs every year. Now, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has decided that the fees of 50 per cent seats in the private medical colleges and deemed universities should be on par with that of government medical colleges. The decision of the managements of the private self-financing colleges not to oppose this order is to be warmly welcomed. The annual fee in government medical colleges is less than Rs 30,000. To be able to study in 50 per cent seats in self-financing colleges at this rate is a huge thing. Talented students will not miss the opportunity to study due to lack of money. Government medical colleges alone cannot accommodate all the talented. From now on, those who get good marks in NEET entrance will also get half the seats in self-financing colleges at government rates.

The managements' demand that the fees for the remaining seats be allowed to be fixed on the basis of the operating expenses of the college is quite reasonable. Let's hope that the government will approve it. When self-financing colleges were started in Kerala, it was said that two self-financing colleges were equivalent to one government college. At that time, when self-financing medical colleges were allowed, it was understood that half of the seats would be offered at government fees. However, there was no agreement between the government and the self-financing management in this regard. So, they did not accept the regulation brought by the government in terms of fees. When the issue reached the court, many of the verdicts were in favour of the management as there was no agreement with the government in this regard. But managements cannot overrule the order of the National Medical Commission. This is because all the colleges operate on the basis of an agreement with the NMC.

At present, the fee for 85 per cent seats in self-financing medical colleges is Rs 6.95 lakh per annum. That will be reduced to Rs 27,580 for 50 percent seats. The level of education and the reputation of the college may go up when the talented children come.