The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has approved recommendations for regulating fees in private medical and dental colleges, ARY News reported on Tuesday, citing sources.
These recommendations have been forwarded to a special committee for review, with the final decision to be announced by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, who chairs the special committee on medical education.
According to sources, the proposed minimum annual fee for private medical colleges is Rs1.8 million, while the maximum is set at Rs2.5 million.
An earlier proposal suggesting fees between Rs1.2 to 1.5 million was rejected by representatives of private medical colleges. Currently, these institutions charge between Rs2.5 to 3.5 million per year.
The proposals also include a 5% annual fee increase and mandate that 35% of beds in teaching hospitals affiliated with private medical colleges be reserved for social welfare patients. Additionally, private colleges will be required to offer five scholarships each year and provide flexible installment plans for underprivileged students.
Sources indicated that private medical and dental college representatives have agreed to these recommendations.
In 2012, the PMDC had capped annual tuition fees for private medical colleges at Rs500,000 with a 5% annual increase, but many institutions did not adhere to this regulation.
It is worth noting that in July last year, the PMDC sought legal guidance from the health ministry to standardize the fee structure. However, even after nearly six months, the issue of excessive fees remains unresolved.