Karnataka: Fifty medical college closures contributes to a Rs 50 lac fee hike

Bengaluru: The Medical Council of India’s decision towards closure of fifty medical colleges has contributed to a jump of Rs fifty lac for every medical seat under the management quota seat for 2016-17. The cost of an undergraduate seat (Management Quota) has taken a hike from Rs. 75 lac to Rs.1.25 crore, all for a full term and a post graduate seat slowly reaching an insurmountable Rs. 3 to 5 Crore. In comparison to this exorbitant high, the government colleges will be charging the meritorious (govt quota) Rs. 16,700 from the first year; while private institutions will be asking for Rs. 77,500. The Comed K, on the other hand, have finalized their fee for the first year students at Rs.5.75 lac.

Calling it an uphill exercise this year for medical education, an MCI source said,” "The churning in entrance tests -the mandatory National Eligibility Entrance Test, for instance -the changes in the regulatory agencies and the closure of medical colleges have cumulatively pushed up the demand for seats."

According to a former Vice Chancellor, medical education for the financially weaker sections is gradually becoming a distant dream, as the private college lobbies are embedded into the system. According to him, they have for years been allowed to charge insurmountable amounts for fee, resulting in the capitation fee business turning into a Rs.12,000 crore business; making light of all regulation.

Describing the exorbitant rates for medical fee, a result of demand and supply mismatch, Cardiologist, Dr. Devi Shetty said, . "Why does an MD in Radiology cost Rs 5 crore? Because more students chase limited seats. We've 56,000 MBBS seats and 14,500 PG seats. Is that logical? Of the 14,500 seats, 50% is reserved and the rest is sold."