Govt. moves to regulate private medical college fees with proposed Rs 1.2 million cap

ISLAMABAD: A special government committee, comprising officials from the Federal Ministry of Health and the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), has proposed capping the annual tuition fee for private medical and dental colleges at Rs 1.2 million.

According to health ministry insiders, this recommendation aims to curb the rapid fee hikes in private institutions, which currently charge students between Rs 2.5 million and Rs 3 million annually.

Official documents indicate that the proposal has been developed after extensive deliberations. However, the final approval rests with the Committee on Medical Education, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar. The matter will then be presented at the PMDC Council meeting for formal enforcement.

Earlier the matter was scheduled to be presented in the PMDC Council meeting on January 27, 2025, however, delays persist as officials from the Deputy PM’s office have not yet responded to repeated reminders, slowing down the process. If approved, this move could bring financial relief to thousands of medical and dental students.

A senior Ministry of Health official confirmed that both PMDC and the health ministry have been facing increasing pressure from parliamentarians, students, and parents to regulate tuition fees.

Fee Trends Over the Years

A subcommittee was tasked with investigating tuition fee trends in private medical colleges. Their findings highlight:

• 2010: Annual tuition fee was Rs 500,000
• 2012: Increased to Rs 600,000
• 2018: Supreme Court set a cap of Rs 800,000, with a 5% annual increase
• 2020-21: Fees reached approximately Rs 997,500
• Recent Years: Private institutions raised fees to Rs 2.5 million – Rs 3 million

The subcommittee has now proposed a standardized Rs 1,212,468 per year fee, which will remain unchanged throughout a student’s academic program to prevent unexpected hikes.

Govt Urged to Take Action

Government officials acknowledge that private institutions often cite rising operational costs as justification for fee hikes. However, the investigating committee found that many increases far exceed the inflation rate and Consumer Price Index (CPI).

To ensure compliance, the committee has recommended:
✅ Strict monitoring of private medical and dental colleges
✅ Heavy penalties for violations of fee regulations
✅ Mandatory annual audits of private institutions
✅ A dedicated complaint system for students and parents facing unfair charges

The proposal is currently awaiting approval from the Committee on Medical Education. However, officials stress that further delays could affect thousands of students who rely on government intervention to make medical education more accessible.

With mounting public and political pressure, experts believe that the government must act swiftly to implement this much-needed reform.