Haryana: With MBBS aspirants and activists uniting to protest against the steep hike in fee for public medical colleges in Haryana, the State Government has recently clarified its stand on the move.
V Umashankar, Principal Secretary to Haryana Chief Minister (PSCM), explained that those who serve in government hospitals in the state don't have to worry about the loan amount. But the government can't subsidize the medical education of those who want to serve in the private sector or in hospitals in other states
This came in wake of the Haryana Government's recent decision to hike MBBS fee in public medical colleges by over 40 percent that drew severe flak from medicos, oppositions, and several associations, as the newly introduced bond, could be up to Rs 9.2 lakh yearly payable upfront by students.
Taking into account the annual fees and bond, the total cost for a four-year MBBS degree will now be Rs 40 lakh. The same was announced via an official notification on the Government website that stated that students can either take an education loan from banks/NBFCs for this purpose or pay the lump sum amount (loan plus annual fee) themselves.
In order to incentivize doctors to opt for Haryana Government medical service, the State government on November 6 came out with a policy that states candidates selected for MBBS degree course in government medical colleges need to execute an annual bond for Rs10 lakh minus the fee at the start of every academic year.
The candidate can pay the entire bond amount without recourse to the loan or the State government will facilitate them for availing an education loan for this bond amount. As per the policy, the government will repay the annual installments of the loan if the candidate obtains employment with the State government.
The Haryana medical education and research department has revised the fee for medical courses and introduced bonds for students, for which a system of loans has been put in place.
Though it has been clarified that the revised fee structure will be implemented from this year itself, the medicos have been demanding immediate rollback of the notification.
Indian Medical Association (IMA) president Dr Rajan Sharma has criticized the decision by the Haryana government to raise the fees of government medical colleges in the State.
The fees in public medical colleges have been raised to Rs 10 lakh per year from around Rs 50,000 per year. With this, a student seeking admission in an MBBS course will have to pay Rs 40 lakh for the four-year course.
"I strongly condemn the decision. Shall we do this to students from poor families who get admission in government colleges after qualifying entrance exam? There is a widespread protest in Haryana," Sharma told ANI when asked to comment on the government's decision regarding fee hike.
"In the ordinance, it is clearly written that if a student comes to the Haryana government job, the government will provide a loan, the government will pay EMI but employment is not guaranteed. What was the necessity to bring this ordinance?" he asked.
Also Read: MBBS, BDS fee for NRI, Management quota reduced in Andhra Pradesh
Joining the protest, AIIMS Students' Association told Millenium Post that the recent policy does more harm than the good for medical aspirants in the state. "As the country still struggles in the midst of the pandemic, it is the medical profession which stands between life and death. The importance of this noel profession has been acknowledged world over, but this policy by the Haryana government drives a stake through the heart of this sentiment. Equating education with money? Is that how the profession of medicine will be rewarded," the AIIMS Student Association stated.
Meanwhile, Umashankar has now told The Tribune, "The Covid situation has shown that the government needs doctors for its healthcare system as everyone can't afford treatment in private hospitals. So, by asking students to fill a bond and either serve our government hospitals or medical colleges or pay up the bond amount, we are trying to address our shortage of doctors."
To access the official notification, click on the link below-
https://.in/pdf_upload/pdf_upload-142230.pdf