On 6th November 2020, the Haryana Government released a notice on behalf of the Department of Medical Education and Research (DMER), notifying the revised fee scheme for MBBS courses in public medical colleges of Haryana. Through the notice, the Government of Haryana announced a 40% fee hike for MBBS courses in public medical colleges of the state. The revised fee structure will be implemented from this year itself. This decision has received a massive backlash from not only the opposition political parties but also from the aspiring medical students.
According to the Haryana’s BJP government, this new structure is meant for “incentivizing doctors to opt for Haryana Government medical service in any public health institution or government medical college to strengthen the medical facilities in the state”.
According to the now disputed notification from DMER, the candidates will now have to pay an annual bond of INR 10 lakhs at the start of each academic year. The notification suggests that the “Students can either take an education loan from banks/NBFCs for this purpose or pay the lump sum amount (loan plus annual fee) themselves.”
Bond Fee – What is the Government’s say on it?
- As per the State Government, the bond amount will be kept aside as a separate trust, which can be utilised in future for the payment of loans for the students.
- The government also assures that the bond amount will not only be secured for the students who will obtain jobs in the government medical institutions, but it would also work wonders for the improvement of infrastructure and equipment in government medical colleges.
- On the other hand, those students who will not join a public institution will not get back their bond amount. The government will pay back the bond amount in addition to the salary only if the student gets a job with a state-managed institution.
- Also, the student has to work for a minimum of 7 years with the same institution to get the bond amount.
Thus, the agonised candidates are showing their disapproval to the decision, asking why they are forced to pay the bond, when the government is not even ensuring them a job.
Opinions on Haryana Government’s Decision to Increase MBBS Fee
In opposition of the fee hike announcement, Simran Kalra, the National Secretary of the Indian Medical Association’s youth wing MSN, has urged the government to cancel the MBBS policy immediately and also restore the “service bond” as well.
Ritanshu Sethi, state convenor of IMA-MSN, also spoke against the new MBBS fee policy. He said – “This is a completely wrong policy and due to this, talented students from Haryana will not be able to give 40 lakh for admission in medical colleges as currently 75% of the students belong to these classes. Only the rich will be able to study medicine in Haryana”.
On the other hand, the state government seems to stay rock-solid on their decision of implementing the new MBBS fee policy. The chief minister of Haryana, Manohar Lal Khattar said – “As compared to other states, the medical fee is still “very minimal” in Haryana. The bonds are being introduced to increase the inclination of students towards working in the state”.
