HYDERABAD: There will be no increase in fee structure for medical and dental courses in the upcoming academic year, despite pressure from private medical colleges, Karnataka Minister for Medical Education Sharan Prakash Patil has said.
The minister made this clear at a meeting with the office-bearers of private medical and dental college managements, his office said in a statement.
Private colleges had appealed for a 10% to 15% hike in fees, to which the minister said that the government had allowed a 10% increase last year, and no fee hike will be permitted this year, it said.
Noting that last year’s 10% hike was sufficient, Patil emphasised that there will be no fee hike this year, and added that an agreement formalising this decision will be signed very soon.
Last year, the Karnataka government ordered formation of a committee to monitor and regulate the fee structures of nursing colleges after complaints poured in about the exorbitant fee hikes.
A five-member committee led by the Joint Secretary of Medical Education Department was formed.
The government also asked the officials to revoke the Essential and Feasibility Certificate of the nursing college that were charging more than the fee structure approved by it.
Meanwhile, Patil has urged the National Medical Council (NMC) to increase the number of postgraduate from 600 to 700 and the undergraduate seats to 800.