The National Medical Commission (NMC) has released a clarification instructing medical colleges nationwide to levy MBBS fees solely for the actual academic period of the programme, thereby stopping the practice of charging students for the internship phase.
The decision follows reports received by the Commission that multiple institutions were charging fees for the entire five to five-and-a-half-year MBBS course, covering the mandatory internship year as well.
Fee only for teaching period, says NMC
In its notice, the NMC clarified that the MBBS programme includes 4.5 years (54 months) of academic instruction, followed by a mandatory one-year rotating internship (CRMI). As internships do not involve formal classroom teaching, the fees charged for this period do not align with the institution’s established academic fee structure.
The Commission has directed all medical colleges and universities to charge fees solely for the four-and-a-half-year duration of the course.
Observations of the Supreme Court
The National Medical Commission has also highlighted several issues flagged by the Supreme Court, including the absence of stipends and the imposition of internship fees.
Additionally, the Commission referred to significant Supreme Court rulings underscoring that fee structures in educational institutions must be fair, transparent, non-exploitative, and aligned with the actual academic services offered.
Warning to colleges
Restating its position, the NMC has directed institutions to rigorously comply with the provisions of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, as well as all existing regulations and court judgments.
It has further cautioned that any violation of the regulations, such as requesting payment for a term other than the designated academic period, will result in strict action against them.
The decision is expected to offer some relief to MBBS students who objected to being billed for a period meant for hands-on clinical training rather than classroom-based theoretical instruction.