Thiruvananthapuram: The state government has decided to implement differential fees structure for both merit and management quota seats in MBBS courses. The clause for uniform fees in the agreement reached with dental college managements for BDS courses in the state was being withdrawn. The new fees structure would be decided later. The admissions to management and NRI seats will be from the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) while that of merit seats will be from the state medical entrance rank list.
The Directorate of Medical Education issued a new order on Tuesday stating that it will not go back on making admissions to 100 percent seats in self-financing medical colleges from the common counselling process of the state government. The order also pointed out that the government was willing to provide minority status to colleges based on the existing criteria. The four Christian medical colleges-- Pushpagiri Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Thiruvalla, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Christian Medical College, Kozhencherry, Amala Medical College, Thrissur, and Jubilee Medical College, Thrissur -- will be allowed to collect uniform fees of Rs 4.5 lakh for both merit and management quota seats.
The four colleges had signed a three-year agreement last year. However, the SFI has decided to oppose the uniform fees structure for medical and dental colleges. Health Minister K.K. Shylaja said the government was ready for talks to reach a consensus. Meanwhile, Mr Anilkumar Vallil, secretary, Kerala Private Medical College Management Association (KPMCA), told Deccan Chronicle that they would agree for negations only if the government withdrew the controversial orders.
