Karnataka: Private Medical Colleges Hike MBBS Course Fees by 10% for 2024 Academic Year

Bangalore: The fees for undergraduate medical courses at private colleges will see a 10% increase for the current academic year, following an agreement reached between the government and private medical college managements. The decision was finalized during a meeting on Saturday, where both parties signed the agreement, officially setting the new fee structure.

Under the new fee structure, government quota seats in private medical colleges will now cost Rs 1,40,621, while a private seat in these colleges will be priced at Rs 11,88,167. This marks a significant rise from last year's fees, where government quota seats were priced at Rs 1,28,746 and private seats at Rs 9,94,906.

Private medical college managements had initially pushed for a fee hike of 15% to 20%, citing increased maintenance costs, staff salary hikes, and other expenses. However, the government, led by Minister for Medical Education Dr. Sharan Prakash Patil, agreed to a more modest 10% increase. Dr. Patil was initially resistant to the hike but eventually conceded after managements presented their case.

The fee hike follows a similar 10% increase implemented last year, which applied only to minority medical colleges. This year, the hike has been extended across all private medical colleges, while the fees for government medical colleges remain unchanged at Rs 50,000 per year.

No Decision Yet on NRI Seat Allocation

Amid the fee hike, a separate issue concerning the allocation of NRI seats remains unresolved. Private medical colleges have filed an appeal in the high court challenging a recent judgment that would require them to allocate NRI seats to the government. The outcome of this legal battle will determine how these seats are distributed.

“We can decide on NRI seats only after the court order,” said a representative of one of the private medical colleges involved in the case.

This development has sparked discussions among students and parents, particularly concerning the affordability of medical education in private institutions. The government, meanwhile, continues to emphasize the importance of maintaining a balance between fair pricing and the financial sustainability of private colleges.

The impact of these changes on aspiring medical students, especially those from economically weaker sections, remains to be seen as the new academic year approaches.