Move to increase medical PG course fee sparks row

​Hyderabad: A reportedly five-time hike in tuition fees for Postgraduate (Super-specialty) management quota seats in private medical colleges in Telangana State has led to a fresh row with doctors fraternity opposing the move tooth and nail.

The existing fee, which is Rs 5.85 lakh per annum, is being proposed to be increased to Rs 25 lakh per annum. According to doctors’ fraternity, the Health Department has readied a GO (numbered 78) approving the five-time fee hike, but it has not been uploaded on government website for reasons unknown. 

Dr K Mahesh Kumar and Dr G Srinivas from Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association (HRDA) and other members stated that the government decision was against rules. They said that any decision for increasing fee in a professional college has to be approved by T AFRC, the fee regulatory authority.

" In this case this procedure was not followed. Also, the massive five-time jump is not acceptable and desirable for doctors aspiring for DM studies," they said. The HRDA addressed a letter against “unjustified hike” to the Principal Secretary (Medical and Health) seeking her intervention. According to sources, private medical college managements have sought a big hike for super-specialty courses, as the existing fee of Rs 5.85 lakh per month to go with monthly stipend of Rs 30,000 was proving to be a burden on them. 

They said that actual costs involved in imparting quality education and escalation in expenditure, increase in university fees etc. was taking a toll on them and hence urged the government to increase it to Rs 25 lakh per annum.