Erode: The fee structure for various courses at the IRT-Perundurai Medical College was revised on par with the government medical colleges. The name of college was also changed as the Government Erode Medical College and Hospital (GEMCH), as per an order issued by the state health secretary office on Saturday.
The move comes after repeated protests and representations from students and parents.
In 1986, the state government handed over 344.36 acres of land in Perundurai to the Institute of Road Transport (IRT) for setting up a medical college. The college received Centre’s nod and started admitting 100 students from 2017.
In September 2017, as the financial position of the state transport undertakings was weak, chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami announced that the government will rename the hospital as the Erode Government Medical College and Hospital.
Subsequently, employees of the hospital were brought under the government. However, the college management continued to collect Rs 3.85 lakh towards annual fee, while the government colleges were collecting Rs 13,610.
As per the revised fee structure, annual fee for MBBS course is Rs 13,610. Students of diploma in nursing will receive a stipend of Rs 600 per month in the first year, Rs 700 in the second year and Rs 800 in the third year. The health department also revised fees for another 15 para-medical and certificate courses.
The order mentioned that the revised fee structure will come to effect from Saturday onwards. “The students who paid fees as per earlier fee structure will not be refunded. Likewise, unpaid fee for period prior to the order will be charged as per the earlier fee structure,” it said. tnn