Islamabad, Feb 28: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has yet to determine a maximum tuition fee for private medical and dental institutions for the 2024-25 academic session. During a recent meeting, the council opted to reassess the proposed fee structures rather than impose a fixed cap.
A PMDC Council member disclosed that despite recommendations from a specialized committee, no consensus was reached on setting a uniform tuition fee for private colleges.
The committee had suggested capping the annual fee at Rs1.2 million, but the council did not approve this proposal.
Private Colleges Oppose Regulation
In anticipation of a potential fee limit, the Pakistan Association of Private Medical and Dental Institutions (PAMI) formally opposed the move. In a letter to PMDC, PAMI argued that the council lacks legal authority to regulate private institution fees under the PMDC Act. Legal experts present at the meeting reinforced this stance, emphasizing that private colleges are only required to inform PMDC about their fee structures rather than adhere to council-imposed caps.
Following the discussions, the PMDC Council directed its committee to analyze existing fee structures within a week to determine their justification.
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Background on Fee Regulation Efforts
A previous committee, including officials from PMDC and the federal health ministry, proposed setting the annual tuition fee at Rs1,212,468 to curb excessive charges by private institutions. Currently, tuition fees at private medical colleges range between Rs2.5 million and Rs3 million per year, creating financial hardships for students and their families. Confidential reports indicate that both PMDC and the federal health ministry have faced pressure from parliamentarians and parents to regulate these rising costs. The review highlighted that numerous institutions were charging unreasonably high fees, leading to a significant financial burden on students.
Tuition Fee Trends and Supreme Court Intervention
- 2010: Private medical colleges charged Rs500,000 annually
- 2012: Fees increased to Rs600,000 per year
- 2018: The Supreme Court capped fees at Rs850,000, allowing a 5% annual increase
- 2020-21: The regulated fee reached Rs997,500
- Present: Many private colleges now charge between Rs2.5 million and Rs3 million per year
The sub-committee recommended that the proposed Rs1,212,468 fee should remain fixed for the entire duration of a student’s enrollment, preventing mid-program fee hikes.
Call for Stricter Regulations
To ensure compliance and fairness, the committee emphasized the need for:
- Annual audits to monitor fee regulations
- Enhanced financial transparency from private institutions
- Strict penalties for violations
- A grievance redressal mechanism for students and parents
As PMDC remains undecided, the uncertainty around tuition fee regulations continues, leaving students and their families in a difficult position.
