NEET Annulled Capitation fees; Medical Colleges Increase Tuition Fees

Studying Medicine in India is increasingly becoming expensive for the aspiring doctors since all private medical college across India are substantially increasing their tuition fees. This hike in tuition fees is a result of the introduction of NEET or National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for admission to all medical courses, which is proving to be a barrier for private colleges to charge capitation fees. On the other hand, medical courses in a government college are still affordable.

The highest hike in fees has been witnessed in Tamil Nadu, where Chennai's SRM Medical College is now charging INR 21 Lakh per annum compared to INR 10 Lakh per annum (till last year). Delhi's Humdard Institute of Medical Sciences is now charging INR 18 Lakh against INR 15 Lakh that was charged earlier. Similarly, Dr D Y Patil Medical College, Navi Mumbai is now charging INR 16.5 Lakh per annum.

The tuition fee for MBBS in Government Medical colleges is way cheaper than that of the private medical colleges. Nothing much has changed for these government colleges. They are charging as low as INR 9,000 for a four-and-a-half year MBBS course to INR 4.4 Lakh.

According to some private university officials, the hike is the result of the stringent overheads charges incurred due to maintenance of college infrastructure and faculty. Some other officials also stated competition as one of the major reason of the hike.

Apart from the hike in fees, the other major concern that prevails is that even after such a major hike in fees some college continue to take capitation charges in cash.

The education sector is slowly turning into business for many, which is affecting the dreams of many aspirants. Even the state fee committee officials are helpless. Things can be solved only when the public takes this to the court.