Telangana Private medical colleges demand MBBS, BDS fee hike; medicos appeal for rebate

Hyderabad: Pointing towards the increasing inflation rate and institutional expenses, the Private Medical and Dental Colleges Association in the state has pressed for a 5 percent fee hike in MBBS and BDS courses citing that the last increase was made in 2016. This comes at a time when the Telangana Admission and Fee Regulatory Committee (TAFRC) is going to revise the fees for these UG courses.

Meanwhile, the junior doctors have urged the government to be considerate while hiking the fee stating that the private institutions have been increasing the fee structure every year despite the government's nod to do so.

In November last year, noting a need to regulate the existing fee structure in the state, the Telangana Admission and Fee Regulatory Committee decided to review and determine fee structures for all the MBBS, MD, MS, SS, BDS, MDS, AYUSH and Nursing courses at various medical institutes of the state.

For this purpose, the fee regulatory authority has directed all the medical colleges to furnish relevant data relating to the year 2018-2019, together with their Audited Financial Statements for the years 2017-18 and 2018-19,online by 31st January, 2020, positively (last date for submission of the relevant data along with the fee proposals), as per the guidelines listed below.

The colleges, who do not submit any fee proposals or are unresponsive and do not submit the relevant data, shall not be permitted to collect any fee for the block period 2020-2023.

Earlier in July 2019, Telangana Private Medical and Dental Colleges Association had submitted a representation to the Telangana Health Minister Eatela Rajendar seeking a fee hike as the last fee revision was made in the year 2016. However, while the government revised the fee structure for engineering, management and other professional courses, it did not revise the fee structure for medical and dental courses.

Per annum Tuition Fee for MBBS and BDS seats at self-financing institutes in Telangana

MBBS

• Convenor Quota (A Category)- Rs 60, 000


• Management Quota (B Category)- Rs 14 lakh


• NRI Quota (C Category)- Rs 26 lakh

Unaided Non-Minority institutes

• Convenor Quota (A Category)- Rs 60,000


• Management Quota (B Category)- Rs 9 lakh


• NRI Quota (C Category)- Rs 11 lakh

BDS

• Convenor Quota (A Category)- Rs 45, 000


• Management Quota (B Category)- Rs 2.7 lakh


• NRI Quota (C Category)- Rs 2.7 lakh

Unaided Non Minority institutes

• Convenor Quota (A Category)- Rs 45, 000


• Management Quota (B Category)- Rs 4 lakh


• NRI Quota (C Category)- Rs 5 lakh

There are 21 private medical colleges and 11 dental institutes with over 2,900 and 300 seats respectively for MBBS and BDS courses.

Now again, the association has demanded an increase in the MBBS and BDS fees. The private colleges said that the hike is inevitable owing to inflation. "Though we can't dictate much, the fee should be increased, we want the TSAFRC to hike the fee by 5%," C Lakshmi Narayana Rao, Telangana Private Medical and Dental Colleges Association President told

TNM.

However, the junior doctors have stated the committee should consider the fact that the private colleges have been hiking 5% of fee annually for UG courses though the TSAFRC never made such a recommendation.

Speaking to TNM, Dr K Mahesh, President of Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association (HRDA), an association of junior doctors, stated, "For the block period of 2016-2019 (three years), the fee regulating committee had determined the fee structure. However, the Government Order issued had a clause that the colleges could increase their fee by 5% every year citing inflation. This increase was never recommended by the TSAFRC." The HRDA now wants the TSAFRC to consider the previous hikes, and then make a fee revision for the block year of 2020-2023.

The HRDA appealed to the TSAFRC urging it consider the plight of the students and make the fee revision, in accordance with the High Court's observation. The Telangana High Court (then Hyderabad High Court) in May 2017 was hearing a plea over the exorbitant fee collected by the private colleges for PG courses. The Court had issued an interim order stipulating that the students could pay 50% of the fee and execute a personal bond for the balance 50%, adds the daily.

GUIDELINES For Furnishing fee proposals by Private Un-aided Professional Medical / Dental (for UG & PG Courses) and Para-Medical, AYUSH and NURSING Institutions in the State of Telangana for the Block Period 2020-2021 to 2022-2023.

As per the provisions of Prohibition of Capitation Fee Act, the collection of capitation fee by Private Unaided Professional Institutions is illegal and if the institutions are allowed to make profit it amounts to capitation.

Accordingly, any fee proposals in respect of Private Unaided Professional Institutions have to be evaluated keeping in view the above cardinal principles.

It is, therefore, necessary that the fee proposals furnished by the Private Unaided Professional Institutions have to be evaluated based on the income and expenditure of the institution as well as the Societies/Trusts under which umbrella the said institutions are established.

Further in order to evaluate the fee proposals, the following principles will be considered for adoption keeping in view the interest of both the institution as well as the student community.

1. All the required financial information should be submitted as per Mercantile (Accrual) System of Accounting. Financial information submitted in any other system of accounting will not be treated as information provided by the institution and the same will not be considered for the purpose of evaluation.


2. If an institution previously followed any other system of accounting and for the purpose of fee fixation has migrated to Mercantile (Accrual) System of Accounting, all the expenditure which pertains to previous financial years shall be excluded while preparing the financial statements/ information to be submitted to TAFRC.


3. The fee shall be fixed based on the revenue expenditure including depreciation of the institution

In order to evaluate the total income of the institution the following heads are to be taken into consideration.

1. Fee Receipts from the Courses – (Refer Schedule-1)


2. Fee receipts from other Courses run by the institution (Refer Schedule-1).


3. Collections/Fee from patients both in and out patients, investigation charges, Aarogyasri receipts etc. (Refer Schedule -2)


4. Other receipts like interest on investments, rents received etc (Refer Schedule-3)


5. Grants received from Government and other sources if any (Refer Schedul-10)

With regard to the expenditure it is broadly categorized as follows:

1. Salary Expenditure: (Refer Schedules- 4, 5 & 6)


2. The retirement age for the employees shall be as per the norms specified by the State Government/UGC/MCI/DCI.


3. Arrears of previous years salary should not be included in the gross salary and should be shown


4. In order to consider the expenditure on teaching and non-teaching staff, the cadre strength fixed by MCI/DCI have to be adopted. Persons who are appointed over and above this strength shall be shown in the other related proformae.


5. Faculty norms for teaching faculty and for non-teaching staff are enclosed and in case of any ambiguity, notifications issued by respective competent authorities shall be


6. In case services of any of the employee is utilized for more than one course, such names shall be shown, together with their salary/remuneration in one course


7. Salary Expenditure on Teaching /non-teaching Faculty should be given department wise/course wise separately in the respective schedules (Schedule 4,5 &6).


8. PAN number for teaching faculty is a must. In respect of non- teaching and other staff also, PAN data shall be furnished, where monthly salary/emoluments/honorarium/remuneration is Rs.25,000 or more. If no PAN/wrong PAN data of them is given, the
   expenditure to that extent will be ignored for the purpose of calculation of


9. Aadhar Card Number MUST be indicated both for teaching faculty/non- teaching faculty. If wrong data is furnished, the expenditure of such persons will be


10. Payment of salaries through cheque/bank will only be considered for expenditure purpose in respect of teaching


11. In case of non-teaching staff, the monthly honorarium / salary / remuneration, as the case may be, is more than Rs.25,000/- shall be made through cheque / bank. Cash payments shall be subject to production of evidence and


12. Audit report shall contain the signature of the Auditor, his name, ICAI membership number along with the following information: -
    
    
    
    1. PAN Number of the Auditor
    
    
    2. E-mail id of the Auditor
    
    
    3. Cell No. of the Auditor
    
    
    
    


13. If the Auditor is a partner of the firm; following additional details shall be given;

• Firm ICAI Registration Number


• PAN Number of the Firm


• E-mail id of the Firm

NOTE:-

If the above said details are not furnished, auditor's reports will not be considered and the fee proposal will be summarily rejected.

The TAFRC has a right to direct the presence of Auditor or seek confirmation from him/her and the corresponding costs, if any, shall be met by the Institution It is the responsibility of the Institution to secure the presence of the auditor whenever required.

1. Administrative and other expenditure (Refer Schedule-7)


2. Finance Cost (Refer Schedule-8)


3. Depreciation (Refer Schedule-9)


4. Utilization of Revenue Grants.
   (Refer Schedule-10)


5. Capital Expenditure incurred up to 31st March, (Refer Schedule-18, 19 & 20) along with details of land purchased and construction particulars, details of equipment purchased, Furniture acquired, Vehicles purchased should be given. The original cost to be given and date of acquisition/purchase/ construction along with place of installation to be given separately along with the book value as on 31-03-2019 which should be tallied with the balance sheet for the year 2018-19.


6. Additions to Capital Expenditure incurred during the year 2018-19 (Refer Schedule- 18,19 & 20) along with place of installation to be

• In case any institution runs more than one course and incurs common expenditure such items are to be reflected in Administrative expenses (Refer Schedule-7). In case the expenditure item can directly be identifiable to a particular course, entries are to be made in the schedule course-wise. In case such segregation of expenditure is not possible such items are to be reflected in the schedule against relevant head and a formula will be evolved to such expenditure course-wise.


• In case any institution runs more than one programme all the expenditure can be bifurcated and reflected in respective Schedules and the bifurcated expenditure shall be certified by Chartered Accountant. If clear bifurcation is not given the proposal shall be rejected


• For the purpose of obtaining the relevant data, particulars are to be furnished institution-wise. If any institution runs more than one programme, the data relating to all the programmes is to be provided in one set of proformae. For this purpose the following sets of proformae are evolved.

Appendix – I (To be furnished by the institutions running MBBS and other programmes, if any)	MBBS (UG and PG) Super Speciality
Appendix – II (To be furnished by the institutions running BDS, MDS and other programmes, if any)	BDS & MDS
Appendix – III (To be furnished by the institutions running Unani and other programmes, if any)	BHMS, BNYS and BAMS
Appendix – IV (To be furnished by the institutions running Nursing and other programmes, if any)	B.Sc, M.Sc, P.B.B.Sc & GNMC
Appendix – V (To be furnished by the institutions running BPT & MPT and other programmes, if any)	BPT & MPT
Appendix – VI (To be furnished by the institutions running MLT and other programmes)	B.Sc MLT, DMLT and MPHW

Note:

1. a) If an institution runs only one programme for example B.Sc Nursing and does not run other programmes, the data has to be furnished in the Appendix–IV.

· The institute has to submit a hardcopy of the proposal along after duly filled in all the particulars mentioned therein duly signed by the Secretary/ Correspondent/ Director/ Principal along with the processing charges to be deposited (on or before 31.01.2020 positively). The prescribed programme wise processing charges to be paid is as follows:

S. No	Name of the Course	Processing Fee
	Medical Programmes
1	MBBS	1,00,000/-
2	P G Courses (PG Degree & Diploma)	1,00,000/-
3	Super Speciality Courses	1,00,000/-
4	BPT	50,000/-
5	MPT	50,000/-
6	M.Sc (Nursing)	50,000/-
7	GNMC	20,000/-
8	B.SC (Nursing)	50,000/-
9	P.B.B.Sc (Nursing-2 years)	50,000/-
10	B.Sc (MLT)	50,000/-
	Dental Programmes
11	BDS	75,000/-
12	P G Courses (MDS)	75,000/-
	AYUSH Programmes
13	BAMS	30,000/-
14	BHMS	30,000/-
15	BNYS	30,000/-
	Para Medical Programmes
16	MPHW(F) & MPHW(M)	10,000/-
17	DMLT and other if any	10,000/-

The prescribed Processing Charges for each programme should be paid through Online Payment Gateway:- Link available in http://tafrconline.telangana.gov.in. Please note your reference number for further correspondence.

Other Directions:

1. Schedules for salary payment for the teaching staff will be included for
   
   
   
   1. Those with qualifications
   
   
   2. Those without qualifications
   
   
   
   


2. Interest on the loan given by the societies to the institutions in respect of internal funds will not be taken into consideration


3. When an institution is running more than one course/programme, the income and expenditure statement and Balance sheet shall be bifurcated and bifurcated statement certified by the Auditor shall be furnished along with the fee If it is not done, the proposals will be summarily rejected.


4. Any expenditure with corresponding income shall be disallowed if corresponding income is not shown


5. Upload the proof and purpose of the borrowings from Financial Institutions/Banks duly specifying the source of of borrowings.


6. All the Colleges should maintain Websites with up to date information. The data submitted to the TAFRC shall also be hosted on the College Website. Further the Colleges to host a link (URL) of the TAFRC on its website, by clicking which the data submitted to the TAFRC will be displayed on the TAFRC website


7. Financial details shall be furnished in Rupees only


8. If the institution furnishes incomplete data or fails to remit the processing charges as prescribed, such proposals will not be considered and ignored.

The institute has to submit the following documents along with the fee proposals:

Formats duly filled in and signed by the Secretary/ Correspondent/ Director/ Principal;

Proof of depositing the processing charges.

Audited financial statement of the organization/society/trust for the year 2017- Also, audited financial statement of the college/institution to be given separately for FY 2017-18.

Audited financial statement of the organization / society/ trust for the year 2018- Also, audited financial statement of the college/institution to be given separately for FY 2018-19.

Essentiality certificate given by State Government / MCI/DCI for proof of intake of students in each course for the year 2018-19;

Details of sanctioned intake by the Competent Authority each course-wise is to be submitted

Letter of confirmation of conducting audit and certified statements prepared based on the accrual system of accounting issued by the statutory auditor along with auditor details like name, mobile number, e-mail

Other information/documents, if any (specify).

The following directions of Hon'ble High court of A.P., in the D.B. Judgment dt.29.10.2011 in WP's No.16547/2010 and batch reported in 2012 (3) ALT 686 (D.B.) is brought to the notice of the Institutions: -

"......an institution which is unresponsive or does not submit statements of income and expenditure, audited balance sheets, and requirements for developmental needs for the immediately preceding year; particulars of expenditure incurred on salaries and infrastructure and other particulars as may be specified (with supporting bills, vouchers or receipts, etc.,) shall not be permitted to collect any fee "

Accordingly, in case of failure to furnish specified data as mentioned above or submission of proposal with incomplete data the institution/college will not be entitled for determination fee and will not be allowed to collect any fee from the students for the block period 2020-21 to 2022-23 in terms of the said

Read Also: All MBBS, PG Medical,SS, Dental, AYUSH courses fee structure to be reviewed by Fee Regulatory Committee in Telangana