Kerala:Government goes back on fee unification issue

Thiruvananthapuram: The Government is reconsidering its decision to unify fee for all category of seats for the MBBS and BDS courses in private self-financing and dental colleges. This change of heart seems to have come about due to the flak it has been facing at the hands opposition parties, parents and student organisations.

An earlier decision to unify fee of both MBBS and BDS courses had been reached during talks with representatives of dental college managements

Health Minister, K.K. Shylaja in a statement on Tuesday said the government's decision to unify fee of all courses has led to anxiety among students who have been receiving fee subsidies for their BDS c0urses in the past years. The implementation of unifying fee would automatically make them loose this benefit.

Fee charged in self financing medical colleges for BDS courses would continue to remain the same this year too. Another issue that the government continues to remain firmon is allotment of seats through the NEET merit list according to a report in the

Hindu.

Earlier in the week , Bhopal's Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare directive to the state's Directorate of Medical Education and Research(DMER), stated admission of MBBS students to the state's four private medical colleges, to be made at par with government medical colleges.

If enforced, MBBS students will have to pay only one tenth of the fee they would pay in normal circumstance, for admission to private colleges.

"We are looking into the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare notice. A similar measure has been taken in the past," said Director, Medical Education and Research, Dr. GS Patel.

Quoting the Supreme Court appointed Oversight Committee on the Medical Council of India, in its letter dated August 11, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare gave directions to the state government to ensure student admissions to these four medical colleges, happen at the same fee that is charged of students admitted to government medical colleges.

Activist Anand Rai has reached out to the Directorate of Medical Education and Research for strict adherence to the oversight committee's recommendations.

"Students must be passed on the benefit of the decision. Directorate of Medical Education and Research(DMER) should ensure that the same is confirmed at the time of admission," Dr Rai added.

Combined counselling Registrations for admission to private and government medical colleges will start from August 25.

A bank guarantee of Rs 2 crore has to be submitted by the four colleges, individually, in case of failing to meet up with the MCI standards- during further inspections.

The names of the four private medical colleges of MP are:Advanced Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Bhopal, (150 seats), Modern Institute of Medical Sciences & Sevakunj Hospital & Research Centre, Kanadia, Indore, (150 seats), Sukh Sagar Medical College & Hospital, Mouza, Chargawan, Jabalpur (150 seats) and Amaltas Institute of Medical Sciences, Dewas Ujjain (150 seats).