Karnataka: Private medical colleges agree to share 40% seats under state govt quota with a fee hike of another 10%

Karnataka: The anxious wait for many medical aspirants in the state seems to be be over now. Private medical colleges in the state have agreed to share 40% seats under the state government quota through state CET. The issue between the state government and the private medical colleges’ managements has been lingering for long. It only got settled after the government delivered on its promise of a 10 per cent fee hike (in private medical colleges) granted earlier, and also another 10 per cent proposal to be considered now.

Sources have implied that the earlier consensus on the proposed 10 per cent fee hike has been inked. Another 10 per cent is also likely to be added now. A fresh agreement is yet to be signed. Private medical colleges in turn have also implied that these measures are applicable only for this year.

MD team reported on May 31 that the state government has given its nod for a 10 per cent fee hike. This decision is based on a single premise of balancing out the financial burden on medical colleges, after MCI had issued them a directive to pay Rs 30,000 per month as stipend to PG students

MD team had also reported yesterday that there was a recent change in stance by the medical colleges foundation in the state on June 13 after they agreed to offer 85 per cent seats-which is 1500 medical seats to the state government. The offer made by the colleges comes with a rider of hiking the fee. The Karnataka Professional Colleges’ Foundation is now demanding a fee of Rs 4 lakh per medical seat per year. The association consists of 12 medical colleges. As implied by some government sources that the change in the stance by the foundation comes after it realized that by providing admissions through NEET they will get less fees. A representative of a private medical college in the city implied that they are not willing to share the government-quota seats. Also, sharing 85 per cent seats with the state government is not feasible.

A highly placed source from Karnataka Professional Colleges Foundation told Express that the managements have agreed to provide seats to CET students. An announcement will be made on Friday. “Following a discussion with the medical education minister over phone, we have accepted the proposal to share seats, and placed our proposal for a fee hike,” the source said.

Medical Education Minister Dr Sharan Prakash Patil told

Express, “They have discussed this with me over phone as I am not in Bengaluru and they are positive.” MR Jayaram, secretary of the foundation, didn’t reveal details but said he will announce on Friday.

As a result of the prevailing confusion for students there was also an expected delay in announcement of the seat matrix for UG medical courses. As a result of this development, the admission process for UG medical courses is also expected to be delayed. In total, 700 medical seats fall under this quota. Out of the 85% seats through Neet (which does not include the NRI quota), half the seats are for the SC/ST and OBC category of students. It will be easier for students under this category to get admissions in around 1,500 medical and 1,600 dental seats offered in the private colleges.