Roll back fee hike for medical courses: IMA

Ahmedabad: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) wrote a letter to chief minister Bhupendra Patel on Tuesday, requesting a reversal of the recently approved fee for govt and self-financed medical courses. The association highlighted that the hike could prevent talented students from pursuing medical education."The hike for govt quota and management quota is 10% to 12%, which has become an issue of concern for the parents and students," read the letter. "In the interest of the students and medical fraternity at large, we request you to immediately revoke the hike as a positive solution to the problem."Last year, the fee regulatory committee, which typically sets fees for self-financed institutions on a three-year basis, established fees for just one year due to post-Covid adjustments. The committee indicated that fees for the subsequent two years would be determined after reviewing the financial records of colleges. The committee has now formally declared an average fee increase of 12%, attributing this to inflation and financial assessments.Despite the committee's position that the increase is essential for maintaining operations at self-financed colleges, the letter signed by IMA Gujarat president Dr Mehul Shah and secretary Dr Gargi Patel contends that this considerable rise in yearly fees will create significant financial strain for students and their families.