Kerala: Exorbitant fee drives students out of MBBS

Thiruvananthapuram: Though only 86 medical seats were vacant after the third round of allotments, the number increased to 690 after the last date for paying the fees ended on Tuesday. As a result, the spot admissions to medical colleges began on Wednesday with a high number of vacant seats unlike earlier years. Out of 86 vacant seats, 63 seats are reserved for minority students from outside the state.

Of the 690 seats, 400 new seats were in the three self-financing medical colleges--  Al Azhar Medical College and Superspecialty Hospital, Ezhalloor, Thodupuzha,  DM Wayanad Institute of Medical Sciences, Kalpetta, Meppadi,  and Mount Zion Medical College, Chayalode, Adoor. 

This meant that 214 students who were included in the third round allotment list did not join the colleges. Many students have been left out of the counselling process due to the higher fees though the state has offered to give surety  for availing of bank guarantee for candidates admitted to self-financing medical colleges .

Candidates admitted to institutions under the Director of Technical Education, who have obtained transfer certificates and documents for taking admission to MBBS/BDS courses and who were unable to take admission owing to the fee structure will  be re-admitted to the previous courses. The amount levied as liquidated damages from them will  be refunded.

There were complaints that many self- financing colleges were trying to dissuade students with higher NEET mark from taking admissions by seeking exorbitant fees not mentioned in the prospectus, like hostel fees, at the spot admission venue. This was to accommodate low- ranking students who were willing to pay  capitation fees, it was alleged.