Medical colleges demanding exorbitant fees from newly admitted MBBS students has been a reoccurring issue.
Over the years, the concerned authorities have been asked to find a solution to the persisting problem – but to no avail.
Following the regular tussle between the colleges and the students, the government had raised the fee structure recently pursuant to a report from a committee formed by the Medical Education Commission (MEC), the governing body for medical education sector.
The fees for MBBS courses were set at Rs. 4,023,250 in May this year for colleges within the Kathmandu Valley – up from Rs. 3.8 million, and Rs. 4,436,025 for those outside – up from Rs. 4.24 million.
However, demanding more than the set fees is rife.
Speaking to The Rising Nepal on several occasions, some medical college operators argued that since the fee structure set by the government would not suffice to meet the colleges’ expenses, they have been clamouring for extra fees.
MBBS students at several medical colleges – Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Kathmandu Medical College, Nepal Medical College and College of Medical Sciences, among others – have been found demanding extra amount.
The rule regarding the fee structure set by the government requires that it must cover all other fees, including examination, library and laboratory (except for hostel and transportation).
However, the colleges have been demanding extra fees citing insufficiency of the fixed fees. Manipal College of Medical Sciences (MCMS) is even found to be making hostel mandatory and charging hefty amount for it.
“The ones reluctant to pay the extra fee are threatened with consequences. Even those with scholarships are made to pay extra fees citing various reasons,” said a new MBBS student at the MCMS on condition of anonymity.
The students at the MCMS have even padlocked the administration in protest of the unreasonable extra fees.
According to the student, they have been facing mental stress even before the full-fledged start of the academic session.
When asked the concerned authorities about their plans to sort out the problem, they informed that the students needed to file complaints with proofs of paying extra amount as a first step.
“The students can reach out to the respective District Administration Office and file a complaint against the college with evidence as it is the case of fraud,” said Semanta Raj Koirala, MEC information officer.
The MEC has also published around half a dozen notices asking medical colleges to not overcharge and the students to not pay more.
As per Koirala, the students can also reach out to the MEC and the universities if they are overcharged.
Nevertheless, the students argued that reaching out to the authorities had hardly been fruitful.
“I and some friends filed a case at Kaski District Administration against the college for overcharging. The case has been in the court for over two years now, but we are yet to receive justice,” said a final year
MBBS student at Gandaki Medical College (GMC) who asked for anonymity.
The student argued that it had been a difficult period for them as they needed to fight for justice and study for a better future simultaneously.
Regarding the recent scuffle at the MCMS, the district administration’s information officer Krishna Chandra Paudel argued that they have not received any formal complaints yet.
“We have, however, called the colleges to warn them not to charge extra fees from the students. In reply, they stressed that they haven’t charged more than the allowed amount,” said Paudel, who is also the assistant chief district officer.
Speaking to The Rising Nepal, Dr. Rajendra Koju, Dean of the Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences, said, “If the students are asked to pay higher amount, they can reach out to us. We assure that students’ academic side will not be hampered if they don’t pay extra fees demanded by the colleges.”
Meanwhile, students argued that the inability on the part of the concerned authorities to take stern action against the overcharging colleges has only festered the problem.
“It is a difficult field of study, due to which we need to be more focused. The issues of fee have always distracted us, which in turn have adversely affected the newly admitted students right from the beginning,” said the GMC student.
Source : TRN,
