Bill to Regulate Private Medical Colleges Introduced in Kerala State Assembly

A Bill to regulate admissions and fee structure in private medical colleges has been introduced in the state assembly of Kerala on August 7, 2017. The Bill titled ‘Kerala Medical Education 2017’ also seeks to provide reservation of seats to the students belonging to Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes and other backward classes in private medical colleges across the state. Health Minister of the State, Mr. K K Shailaja has moved the Bill in the state assembly.

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Few private medical colleges in Kerala are indulging in malpractices with regard to the admission process and are charging an exorbitant fee from the students. Therefore, it has become mandatory to enact a legislation that regulates the admission procedure and fee structure of private medical colleges. For determining the same, according to the Bill, the government must constitute an 11-member Admission and Fee Regulatory Committee headed by a retired judge of Supreme Court.

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Further, according to the Bill, any person who feels discontented by an order of the Admission and Fee Regulatory Committee can appeal to the High Court within 30 days from the date of such orders.

If the Bill is passed by the state assembly of Kerala, it will replace the existing Kerala Medical Education Ordinance (April 2017).

Recently, Medical Council of India cancelled the admission of around 90 students in Pondicherry who sought admission to PG medical courses in an unfair manner. These candidates did not seek admission by participating in the counselling process conducted by the Centralised Admission Committee.

So as to protect the interests of the students, it is vital that state governments take steps to regulate admission process and fee structure in private medical institutes.