Panel fixes Bihar private medical colleges fees

The students seeking admission in private medical colleges in Bihar got a  major relief with the regulation of fee structure by Educational Fee Fixation Committee.

The fee structure was announced by the five member committee headed by retired justice Akhilesh Chandra for the three private medical colleges in Katihar, Rohtas and Kishanganj.

For Katihar Medical College, Katihar and Narayan Medical College, Rohtas (Sasaram) the annual fee structure will be Rs 8.38 lakh and Rs 8.21 lakh respectively for the three academic years 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21. For the Mata Gujri Medical College, Kishanganj Rs 8 lakh per annum has been fixed.

Expressing jubilation over the decision, Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey said this would provide great relief to the students and free them from unnecessary financial burden.

“The private medical colleges will have no say in fee fixation and demanding extra money in the name of different heads. There will be transparency in financial matters,” said Pandey.

Principal Secretary, Health, Sanjay Kumar, who is member secretary of the committee, said quoting the committee’s decision, “The private medical colleges shall not charge either directly or indirectly any other amount over and above the amount fixed as fees.”

Added Pandey, “If any other amount is charged under any head like donations, the same would amount to charging of capitation fee.  Any deviation of this order will entail serious penal consequences.”

The Minister said the Educational Fee Fixation Committee, which became operational from mid 2017, worked with alacrity. “The Bihar government was keen to see the judgment at the earliest and to provide relief to needy students aspiring to pursue medical courses. The decision will help medical aspirants fulfill their dream,” said Pandey and added that the fee structure of private dental colleges in Bihar would also be rationalized in the near future.

It may be recalled that in the light of the Supreme Court’s direction, the Bihar government had setup the committee with members drawn from various streams to rationalize the fee structure in the private medical colleges. After the introduction of the NEET exam for entry in medical colleges, the fee fixation had also become all the more necessary, said the Minister.