Two months ago, a 25-member government committee fixed the maximum fee for private medical colleges at Rs1.8 million for a five-year programme, including all dues. However, most private medical colleges are not adhering to this notification and continue to charge an average of Rs3.5 to 4 million per student, as per the previously fixed fee.
It’s undeniable that millions of candidates pursue MBBS and BDS education in Pakistan every year, but only a few secure admissions to government medical colleges. Currently, there are 187 medical and dental colleges in the country, with 66 government institutions and 121 private ones. The total five-year fee per student in government medical colleges is less than Rs90,000.
According to government policy, each medical college, whether government or private, is required to admit a maximum of 100 students per session based on merit determined by an entrance test. As a result, only a few thousand gain admission to government institutions, while affluent students turn to private colleges. Many deserving low-income students are forced to abandon their medical dreams.
The number of intelligent and hardworking candidates who have been deprived of medical education due to this system is staggering. This is a significant tragedy, and the poor education system bears a major responsibility. The federal and provincial governments must acknowledge this situation and take concrete steps to address it.
Amin Wastoo
Khushab
