Thiruvananthapuram: Walkout over medical fees pact

Thiruvananthapuram: The Opposition walked out of the Assembly on Tuesday protesting against the agreement reached between the government and the self-financing medical college managements on the fees structure.

The Opposition alleged that the compromise formula would help the managements to increase the fees.

Former health minister V.S. Sivakumar, who gave an adjournment notice, pointed out that the decision to go ahead with last year's fees structure had created anxiety among students and parents.

The students have to furnish a bond to the effect that if the Fee Regulatory Commission fixed a higher fee, they will pay the extra amount later. The managements had demanded two to three-fold increase in fees to be fixed at a range between Rs 12 lakh and Rs 18 lakh.

Mr Sivakumar accused the government of failing to bring about amendments to the Medical Education (Regulation and Control of Admissions to Private Medical Colleges) Bill even two years after the High Court had recommended it.

Health Minister K.K. Shylaja rejected the allegation that the government had delayed the admission process and said it had sent the draft amended Bill to the law department. "There was only procedural delay," she said.

She admitted that the High Court had in November 2017 wanted to split the regulatory committee, as provided in the Bill, into fee fixation and admission supervision ones. As the Lok Sabha elections were round the corner, the government could not take the ordinance route. As elections were declared, the governor advised that the Election Commission's consent should be received, she said.

As the consent was delayed, the Bill was brought up on the first day of this Assembly session and it was passed on June 13. In 2016-17, the state government had entered into an agreement with 20 medical colleges earmarking some seats for a fee of Rs 25,000 enabling a record number of students to study paying lower fees. However, the managements moved the court which said differential fee was not possible, Shylaja said.

Following the minister's reply Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan rejected the adjournment notice and the Opposition staged a walkout.