Doctors have insisted the state government to cut the “high” fee of private medical colleges which is run by deemed universities in the state. Also, had demanded an order to normalize the fee of MBBS courses in private medical colleges.

Dr Vitull K Gupta, chairman of the Association of Physicians of India, has requested the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, Cabinet Minister OP Soni, and DK Tiwari, Secretary, Department of Medical Education and Research, to decrease the fee of private medical colleges in the state.

Dr Gupta said that the inefficiency and indifferent attitude of the government has failed to regulate the fee of MBBS courses in private medical colleges that are being run by deemed universities. In June, last year, the Punjab Cabinet had decided to adjust the charges of private health sciences universities, with the aim of students won’t have to pay an exorbitant fee. Many people have the impression that a powerful influence of private medical colleges on the government prevents them to take appropriate action.

Dr KK Nohria, a city-based doctor, said that candidates who get admission to private colleges in the government quota usually have better marks as compared to other students. But, private universities have students with lower marks. The tuition fee for MBBS students admission in the government quota to private colleges is Rs 4 lakh, but in other quotas it is around Rs 1 crore. The state government should take action to reduce the high fee of private medical colleges as medical education is going out of reach for middle class families.

Dr Harvinder Singh Bakshi, former state secretary of Indian Medical Association, Punjab, said private medical colleges were robbing students in the name of capitation fee and the drift had brought down the level of medical education in the state. NEET was introduced to encourage the intake of merit students in MBBS course but those whose performance are poor, they are using money power to get admissions.

Source: The Tribune