Plan to replace tuition fee scheme for MBBS students

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 6

Failing to get the desired results through the subsidised tuition fee scheme offered to MBBS medical students selected at three government medical colleges, the state government is now planning to replace it with the loan scheme.

The selected medical students were offered the subsidised scheme only if they were willing to serve the state for a period of three years. This clause was added to deal with the shortage of doctors. However, despite availing the scheme, the government soon discovered that students were not willing to serve in the state.

“We are working on a scheme whereby the medical students selected in three government medical colleges will be given an option to take education loans for the five-year study period. Once they complete the course, the government will pay the monthly loan instalment. In turn, students will have to serve the state for a period of 15 years,” said Om Prakash, Additional Chief Secretary (Medical, Education and Health).

In case the student agrees to serve the state for 15 years, the government will pay the monthly instalment of the loan and also pay the monthly remunerations due to the doctor.

Uttarakhand offers MBBS courses in three government medical colleges — Veer Chander Singh Garhwali Medical College (Srinagar), Sushila Tiwari Medical College (Haldwani) and Doon Government Medical College (Dehradun). In both Srinagar and Haldwani medical colleges, there are a total of 100 seats each, whereas in Dehradun there a total of 150 seats.

As part of the subsidised tuition fee bond scheme first launched in 2004-2005, the state Department of Medical Education charges subsidised tuition fee of Rs 40,000 per year from the students executing the bond. This is a subsidized tuition fee as compared to full annual tuition fee of Rs 4,00,000 lakh. However, the tuition fee is charged for a total of four-and-a-half years. In case, students do not abide by the bond, there is also a provision of penalty to the tune of Rs 2 crore.

So far, the government has failed to track how many students have defaulted on the bonds.