Deemed universities in Tamil Nadu have significantly increased the cost of MBBS education, with total course fees touching ₹1.5 crore and annual tuition reaching up to ₹30.50 lakh. Experts warn that such steep hikes may discourage many aspirants from pursuing medical education.
Sharp Hike Since 2015
Since 2015, the annual fee at deemed universities has surged by nearly 200%, rising from an average of ₹10 lakh. In contrast, self-financing medical colleges are bound by the fee structure set by a regulatory committee. However, deemed universities remain outside the purview of such regulations. “We had hoped the government would cap fees for deemed universities after several court rulings, but nothing has changed,” said student counsellor Manickavel Arumugam.
UGC Proposal Yet to Materialize
In 2019, the University Grants Commission (UGC) proposed the formation of a fee committee to regulate tuition at deemed universities. The proposal included penalties of ₹10 lakh, refunds of excess MBBS fees, and possible legal action for non-compliance. But despite these suggestions, no enforcement has taken place.
Additional Expenses Burden Parents
Parents are also required to pay for additional services such as laboratory, library, hostel, and mess facilities, which cost around ₹2.5 lakh annually. “Families should not rely solely on college websites. They must read the prospectus thoroughly,” advised NEET coach Sathish Kumar R.
Financial Strain on Families
To cover these mounting costs, many families resort to a combination of educational and personal loans, often dipping into savings or selling assets. However, the return on investment is modest. “Fresh MBBS graduates earn no more than ₹40,000 per month in most hospitals. This forces them to rely on parents for repaying EMIs. They avoid pursuing postgraduation unless they gain entry into a government institution,” Sathish added.
Medical Associations Raise Alarm
Doctors’ associations, including the Indian Medical Association (Tamil Nadu branch) and the Tamil Nadu Government Doctors’ Association, have expressed concern over an oversupply of medical practitioners. To address this, they have proposed reducing the number of medical seats, halting the opening of new medical colleges, and limiting the licensing of foreign-trained doctors.
Surplus Doctors in Tamil Nadu
As reported by TOI, Tamil Nadu has over 1.8 lakh registered doctors, with around 1.5 lakh actively practicing. “The ideal doctor-population ratio is 1:1000, but we already have 1 for every 600,” noted Dr. K Senthil, former president of the State Medical Council and current president of the Tamil Nadu Government Doctors’ Association. With a fertility rate of 1.4, the state’s population is declining. “In a decade, Tamil Nadu will have one doctor for every 350 people, given the annual addition of 10,000 MBBS graduates and 1,500 foreign medical graduates,” he added.
Need to Expand PG and Super Specialty Seats
Dr. Senthil urged the southern states to turn this situation into an opportunity by increasing postgraduate and super specialty medical seats. Although doctors are open to relocating, many avoid other states due to inadequate healthcare and educational facilities for their families.