Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has ordered that medical colleges can collect tuition fees from MBBS students only for the 4.5-year (54 months) academic duration of the course. The decision follows the National Medical Commission (NMC) directive prohibiting the collection of tuition fees during the one-year compulsory rotating medical internship.

The government order applies to all medical colleges in the state.

The refund of excess fees already collected will be subject to the final verdict of the Kerala High Court. The NMC had earlier directed the Director of Medical Education to ensure that medical colleges in Kerala refund the excess fees collected. However, the MOSC Medical College, Kolenchery, challenged the directive in the High Court, which granted an interim stay.

The High Court had meanwhile permitted colleges to collect fees fixed by the Fee Regulatory Committee until the case is finally decided.