Pvt medical colleges charging excessive admission fees in Bangladesh

EUROBD24NEWS: Private medical and dental colleges are cashing in on the absence of health ministry guidelines for admission fees to be realised from incumbent students.

Sources said an excessive amount of money is charged from the incoming students as admission fee, dealing a blow to the guardians.

Some Tk 1.2 to 2 million is taken for admission in private medical and dental colleges from each student.

A  investigation revealed that Sikder Women’s Medical College demands Tk 1.67 million for freshman admission, excluding VAT, accommodation and other fees.

Bangladesh Medical College charges Tk 1.45 million while Holy Family Medical College Tk 1.5 million, Northern International Medical College Tk 1.2 million, East-West Medical College Tk 1.3 million, Uttara Women’s Medical College Tk 1.32 million, Shahabuddin Medical College Tk 1.4 lakh and Community Medical College Tk 1.19 million.

Claiming the admission fees as ‘justified’, Principal of ZH Sikder Women’s Medical College Dr Abu Shamim gave the version saying the college authorities are providing a large campus, international standard laboratories and accommodation facilities for students to ensure quality education.

“But we do not have any hidden charges,” he added.

Expressing deep concern over the excessive charge, guardians urged the government to fix an admission fee equal to the government medical and dental colleges.

They also demanded an instalment payment system of admission fees.

It is true that the expenditure in private medical colleges is higher than the government-run colleges, but it is quite impossible for the authorities concerned to ensure quality education with limited admission fees, said Dr Moazzem Hossen, president of Private Medical and Dental College Owners Association.

“So, we are charging fees as per need and for the greater interest of medical education,” he added.

Some 44 private medical and 13 dental colleges are functioning in the country, according to sources at Directorate General of Health Services.

Four percent Vat is being imposed additionally on students’ fees and they have to pay Tk 5,000 to Tk 10,000 as monthly fees and another Tk 3,000 to Tk 5,000 as accommodation charge, noted Public Health Expert Dr Muhammad Abdus Sabur said, adding that a student has to spend over Tk 3.5 to Tk 4 million to complete medical education.

The government has taken initiatives several times to introduce admission fees equal to the government colleges, but failed to apply the rules due to non-cooperation of the governing bodies of private medical colleges, a health official said seeking anonymity.

Contacted, Director General of Health Services Dr Khondakar Mohammad Shefatullah said it is a matter of concern that as regards admission fees, private medical colleges seems to have descended into anarchy.

“We asked them to be more humane than commercial. But they are not carrying out the order. This type of ‘sick’ mentality is an impediment to the harmonious educational atmosphere,” he added.

Category: English News