Sept. 6: With a new fee structure determined for Bachelor level medical education by the Medical Education Commission from academic year 2019/20, the fee is likely to get revised again for the next academic year .

While the fee structure for upcoming academic year 2020/21 has been determined equal to that in 2019/20, the fee for 2021/22 is likely to get revised again.

The government in 2019/20 had determined the fee for Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) as Rs 4.01 million in medical colleges within the Valley and Rs 4.42 million for colleges outside the Valley. Likewise, fee ceiling for Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) was set at Rs 2.01 million.

A five-member committee led by then Minister for Health and Population Upendra Yadav in April, 2019, formed to study the necessity and feasibility of revising the fee structure of medical education had suggested the fee structure which was implemented from the same year.

Despite a recent change in the fee structure, the commission has formed a new committee comprising of representatives from concerned ministries – health, education, and finance; Medical Education Commission (MEC), University Grants Commission, experts and stakeholders to recommend the new fee structure.

“The members in the committee are undertaking necessary analysis and study to revise the fees. The fee recommendation will be scientific and adjusted with inflation rate as well,” said Dilli Ram Luintel, member-secretary at MEC.

As per the fee ceiling determined in 2019, medical colleges in the Valley could charge up to Rs 3.85 million and those outside the Valley could charge up to Rs 4.24 million for MBBS. Similarly, the fee ceiling for BDS was Rs 1.9 million.

A couple of days ago, the Medical Education Commission had also published a notice requesting concerned stakeholders such as students and their family members along with owners of medical colleges to provide their recommendation regarding the fee structure.

“While students and their family are want reduction in fees , the owners of medical colleges are requesting to increase them,” said Luintel.

Despite the fee structure being determined by the government, medical colleges have often been accused of charging more than the fee ceiling leading to protests at the colleges.

Private medical colleges have been accepting of charging exorbitant fees citing that the fee structure set by the government is not enough to run the colleges.

“Stakeholders have different views about the fee structure due to which we have accepted suggestions from them. The committee will provide recommendation of a new fee structure based on the suggestions received as well as from a scientific and economic point of view,” Luintel added.

“The committee is likely to bring forth their report of recommendation soon. The government may then decide to revise the fee structure .”

source: risingnepaldaily, 6 September 2020

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