Docs want PM to regulate ‘ greedy’ medical colleges

◗ The petition requests the PM and Union health ministry to equalise the fees of private medical colleges with government medical colleges

In an online petition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, city doctors have urged him to regulate the fees of “greedy” private medical colleges which are turning a “death trap” for medical students.

The petition, which has been signed by over 25,000 people till now, requests the prime minister and the Union health ministry to equalise the fees of private medical colleges with government medical colleges for at least 85 per cent of overall seats.

“According to Medical Counselling Committee ( MCC) website fees of private medical colleges can range from ` 8 lakh to 40 lakh per annum for government regulated seats and up to one crore per annum for management quota seats. As most of the aspirants are from middle class or lower middle- class families, this huge amount of fees put major setback to their ambitions and psychology,” said the petition.

Started by Dr Harjit Singh Bhatti, President, Resident Doctors Association, AIIMS, the petition also mentioned suicides of two doctors in Indore allegedly over hike in fees and harassment.

“The suicide of Dr Smriti Laharpure of Index Medical College and Dr Shivani Uike of Index Dental College, Indore is one of the examples which shocked India to its core and desired the attention of policymakers to regulate greedy private medical colleges which are turning into a death trap for medical students,” it said.

“Many students take education loans to fulfill their dreams but then unregulated private medical colleges further pressurise students to pay money beyond mentioned on MCC website. Apart from this, students are also forced to pay hostel fees in lakhs and thousands of rupees as fine for minute penalties. This greed of private medical colleges to earn maximum from every medical students put traumatic pressure on students,” it added.