Karnataka: MD course at dirt cheap Rs 5,000 per year!

Bengaluru: Rs 5,000 annual fee for Doctor of Medicine courses like Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, while it’s Rs 20,000 for Radiology! This is the state government’s fee structure in government-run medical colleges for these highly sought-after courses, when private colleges in the state are charging lakhs of rupees for the same course.

The government has kept the fee structure low for post-graduate MD, MS and diploma courses to ensure that students get quality medical education for a low cost. “These students get stipend once they complete their first year, besides various other facilities. This fee is very nominal,” said an officer from the medical education department.

In contrast, private medical colleges charge hefty amounts for the same courses. Students said that the annual fee for MD Radiology in a private college, even if it is government quota seat, is Rs 4.40 lakh. “A seat for MD radiology under the management quota costs between Rs 1 crore and Rs 2 crore. This shows how low the fee structure is in government medical colleges,” said a student.

But he also said that PG medical students passing out of government colleges have to sign an agreement stating that they will serve in government hospitals in rural areas for three years. If they violate the terms of the agreement, they have to pay a penalty.