In a bid to streamline the fee structure system in private medical colleges across the country union health ministry has directed the Medical Council of India (MCI) to prepare guidelines for fixation of fees for the undergraduate and post-graduate medical courses MBBS and MD/MS, respectively. The new fee ceilings is likely to be effective from the coming academic session beginning in August-September in both government and private medical colleges.

With the ministry’s directives MCI has already started collecting data in connection with existing fee structure in the private teaching hospitals in various states and union territories (UTs). “The ministry has asked the Board of Governors in suppression of Medical Council of India to prepare guidelines for fixation of fees in private medical colleges. These guidelines are to facilitate the National Medical Commission (NMC) to be constituted by the Government of India under the NMC Act, 2019 in discharge of its responsibilities under the Act,” according to a member of the Board.

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The Board has initiated work for formulation of new fee structure through collection of data submitted by private medical colleges. All the data are being examined, he said. The NMC Bill might be a bonanza for the private medical teaching institutes as it gives the proposed NMC the power to fix fees for around 50 percent seats in these colleges. As per the existing system, a fee structure regulatory committee stipulates the ceilings of fees for all seats in private colleges.

The centre has decided to continue it with the Bill despite serious concerns raised by different state governments and other stake holders about the pay fixation clause leading to malpractices and auctioning of seats. In Bengal, health department has a fee structure committee comprising two retired judges of the High Court and senior officials of state health and higher education departments.

The committee considers the proposals made by the private medical colleges in the state seeking hike in ceilings for MBBS and MD/MS courses every three years. “With the formation of NMC there are chances of slashing the existing fees taken by the private medical colleges,” said Dr Susanta Banerjee, former director of medical education (DME).