NEET Effect : Private Universities Double MBBS Fees

Studying medical education in India is becoming expensive for MBBS aspirants since all medical institutions all across India are increasing their tuition fees. This hike in tuition fee is a result of the introduction of NEET or National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for admission to all medical colleges or course, which is proving to be a barrier for private colleges to charge capitation fees. On the other hand, medical admissions in a government college are still affordable.

After NEET declaration, All private medical institutions and deemed universities are now mandated to admit students solely on the basis of merit. According to the new rules, candidates can independently apply to various colleges but admission will be based on NEET score.

The result of this decision directly affected to private medical colleges and deemed universities. Private medical institutions and deemed universities in Tamil Nadu have increased their fee structure for MBBS after CBSE released the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test results on August 17. The highest hike in fee-structure has been witnessed Chennai-based SRM Medical College, which was Rs 9 lakh in 2014 and Rs 10 lakh in 2015, is Rs 21 lakh this year, including the Rs 2 lakh development fee and Rs 1 lakh curriculum fee. Means in a premier college, a candidate joining MBBS this year will end up paying more than 80 lakhs for the four-and-a-half-year course.

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.

“I have to pay at least Rs 1 crore as tuition fee. The total cost is likely to go up by another Rs 25 lakh," said Selva Ganapathy, whose son secured more than 90 percentile in NEET. His son missed a government medical college by just 0.25 cut-off points.

The tuition fee for MBBS in government medical colleges is a cheaper and best way than that of private medical colleges. Nothing much has changed in 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 the some private colleges officials, the hike is the result of the stringent overheads charges incurred due to maintenance of college infrastructure, labs and faculty. Some other officials also stated competition as one of the major reason of the hike.

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.