Thiruvananthapuram: Students are being caught in the crossfire over a dispute concerning the collection of fees for MBBS courses, with the government delaying action. The government had issued an order on July 17 stating that self-financing medical colleges could collect fees only for the four-and-a-half-year duration of the MBBS course. Although the Kerala High Court stayed the order, the government has not filed an appeal against the stay. As a result, college managements have begun demanding annual fees from students even during the compulsory internship period in the fifth year.

Earlier this year, the National Medical Commission (NMC) issued an order stating that the MBBS course is four-and-a-half years long and that tuition fees should not be collected during the internship period. The state government subsequently issued an order in July implementing the NMC directive.

The Kerala Private Medical College Management Association and some individual institutions obtained an interim stay from the High Court against the government order. The managements argue that the fee structure for 5 years should be determined by the Fee Regulatory Committee. The committee has not yet taken a position on the matter. A new committee was constituted only recently.

Medical students' and parents' organisations allege that some management associations are using the stay as a pretext to claim that the NMC and government orders have been invalidated, and are continuing to impose fees for the fifth year. They pointed out that government medical colleges collect fees only for the four-and-a-half-year course period. They also said that most states, including Telangana and Tamil Nadu, have issued orders allowing colleges to collect fees only for four-and-a-half years.

Let the Court Decide

"Since the government order on fees has been stayed, the government's position will be clarified and notices will be issued to the colleges once the final verdict is delivered."

— Dr K.V. Viswanathan, Director of Medical Education