Question : Student Coercion in Private Medical College

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has asked the Private Medical and Dental colleges across the country to charge fee for only the first year from students at the time of admission, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government is aware of reports and representation by students of MBBS and BDS courses in various private medical colleges in the country stating that college managements are coercing the students to furnish bank guarantee on stamp paper for four years in addition to the fee for one year in contravention to the directives of the Government prohibiting the colleges to demand bank guarantee, if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has received complaints from the students in this regard, if so, the details thereof and the number of complaints received from 2010 to 2019; and

(d) whether the Government intends to take stringent action against such institutions including revocation of affiliation and recognition, if so, the details thereof and the action likely to be taken by the Government in this regard?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)
(a) to (d): Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare conducts counselling for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate medical/dental courses for All India Quota seats and all the seats of Deemed Universities. DGHS informed that it had issued a public notice that the Deemed Universities should ask only for annual fee and also not insist upon Bank Guarantee by candidates during admission to avoid harassment of the candidates. DGHS received complaints from students regarding demand of Bank Guarantee at the time of admission in MBBS/BDS courses by some Deemed Universities. Accordingly, a letter was issued by the DGHS to the concerned Deemed Universities requesting them not to insist on Bank Guarantee in NEET (UG) counselling.

Further, in the case of Private Medical/Dental Colleges, the respective States are conducting counselling for admission in MBBS/BDS seats. The complaints against the private medical/dental colleges with regard to charging of fee, as and when received are forwarded to the concerned State Government for appropriate action. However, no data of such complaints is maintained centrally.