The National Medical Commission (NMC) has directed all medical colleges to disclose their complete course-wise fee structure and stipend details for interns and residents on their official websites. The NMC has created a Google Form for institutions to submit the required information to ensure compliance and facilitate monitoring.

Reasons for the Directive

The NMC's directive is rooted in the Supreme Court's judgment, which addressed the non-disclosure of fees by college authorities. The Supreme Court mandated that all private and deemed universities must disclose detailed information regarding tuition fees, hostel charges, caution deposits, and all miscellaneous charges at the pre-counselling stage. Concerns regarding non-payment of stipends and illegal imposition of internship fees also contributed to the NMC's decision.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

Medical colleges that fail to comply with the NMC's directive may face regulatory action. This includes the issuance of show-cause notices, imposition of financial penalties, withdrawal of course recognition, and suspension of admissions.

NMC's Previous Actions

The NMC has previously taken measures to ensure transparency and protect students from hidden or arbitrary fee demands. In line with existing regulations and judicial mandates, the commission has set deadlines for medical colleges to submit stipend details paid to undergraduate interns, postgraduate residents, and senior residents. Regulation 4.3 of the Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations (PGMER), 2023, mandates that medical colleges must disclose the fee for each course while entering data in the seat matrix, and failure to do so will result in the seat not being counted. The collection of any undisclosed or unapproved fees will be treated as unauthorized.

Broader Implications

This directive is a part of a larger effort to regulate fees in private medical colleges. Earlier this year, the NMC declared that the fees for 50% of seats in private medical colleges and deemed universities should be on par with government medical colleges in the same state or union territory. This decision aims to make medical education more accessible to meritorious students who might otherwise be unable to afford it.

Reactions and Concerns

While the NMC's move has been lauded by parents and students, some management representatives from private colleges have expressed concerns. They argue that reducing the income of private and deemed colleges by 50% may not encourage them to operate in the long run or provide world-class infrastructure. Some suggest that the burden of subsidized fees may fall on the remaining 50% of students, while others propose adding supernumerary seats in private and deemed colleges with subsidized fees.

Inspection Fees

The NMC also has established fees for various inspections. These fees vary based on the type of inspection, such as the establishment of a new medical college, starting postgraduate courses, increasing admission capacity, or recognition/verification of compliance.