The Director of Medical Education (DME) in Kerala has convened a meeting with all private medical college managements on June 12 to discuss the National Medical Commission (NMC) directive mandating the refund of excess fees collected from MBBS students. The NMC directive follows complaints that medical colleges charged fees beyond the prescribed duration of the course.
NMC Directive on Fee Refund
The directive was issued to the DME, instructing it to take steps to return fees collected for an additional six-month period from students. The NMC has pointed out that the collection of excess fees violates statutory provisions contained in the NMC Act 2019.
According to the directive, the refund will apply to students who secured admission after 2020 and will be applicable to both government and private medical colleges. Private medical college managements face a significant financial liability if forced to pay the refunds.
Government Decision to be Final
However, a government decision on this matter will be final. The DME is expected to submit a report to the state government after discussions with private managements.
The action pertains to the practice of collecting five years' worth of tuition fees for the MBBS programme, even though the academic course duration is four-and-a-half years. The NMC has instructed the department to ensure that only fees corresponding to the prescribed course period are charged and to issue necessary directions to medical colleges in this regard.
The commission had earlier issued a circular stating that colleges should collect fees only for the four-and-a-half-year duration of the MBBS course. The latest directive follows complaints that several institutions continued to charge students for an additional period in violation of these guidelines.
Relief for Students and Families
This development is likely to bring relief to thousands of medical students and their families who had raised concerns over the additional financial burden imposed by the fee structure. The meeting on June 12 will be crucial in determining the implementation of the refund process.
