The Health Ministry announced almost 75% of total medical seats in the country would be available at reasonable fees after the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill is passed. Nearly 50% of the total MBBS seats in the country are in government colleges, which have nominal fees. Of the remaining seats, 50% would be regulated by the NMC Bill that will eliminate corruption in medical regulatory bodies.

According to a statement released by the ministry, “In the spirit of federalism, the State governments would still have the liberty to decide fees for remaining seats in private medical colleges on the basis of individual MOUs signed with colleges on the basis of mutual agreement.”

The Health Minister termed the legislation as “pro-poor” saying it would not only bring govt seats but also 50 percent of all private seats within the reach of meritorious students belonging to economically weaker sections (EWS).

The Ministry also added, “States also have been providing scholarships on the basis of merit cum means and would normally continue to do so in order to make medical education affordable to all students.”

While initiating a debate in the Rajya Sabha, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh suggested three key amendments to the bill to ensure the NMC regulates fee for up to 75 per cent seats in private medical colleges and deemed universities instead of 50 per cent seats proposed in the Bill. “This provision will open floodgates to privatisation in medical education. I believe in privatisation. But I do not believe in privatisation in medical education,” he explained.

He also said, “There are 76,000 MBBS seats in the country, out of which 40,000 in government colleges and 36,000 in private sector. Out of 36,000 seats, 30,000 seats are in private colleges and the rest 6,000 seats in deemed universities”.

Source: NDTV