Medical Education in India: Cost, Locations, Controversy and Safety Concerns

The 2024 NEET controversy was sparked by multiple discrepancies in the NEET-UG exam, India’s premier medical entrance exam. Allegations of leaked question papers surfaced, leading to arrests in Bihar and Gujarat. In Patna, individuals were accused of paying large sums to get early access to the exam, while in Godhra, a teacher was caught helping students during the exam.

Despite claims of impossible scores and demands for a re-examination, the Supreme Court ruled on July 23 that there was no widespread problem or systemic failure and that there would be no re-examination.

How much does medical school cost in India?

According to data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, there were 70 medical colleges in India as of August 2023, with a total of 107,948 seats.

The number of seats allocated can vary each year. Some reports suggest that there are about 55,000 seats in government colleges, while there are about 50,000 in private institutions. The skewed ratio of government to private seats already highlights the challenge of accessibility.

Government colleges have fees ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 per year for MBBS, which remain the most sought after due to their affordability. On the other hand, private colleges charge anywhere between Rs 3 lakh to Rs 25 lakh per year, making medical education a distant dream for many.

How long does an MBBS course in India take?

The Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) is a core undergraduate medical program in India, which lasts for 5.5 years. The course is divided into 4.5 years of academic study followed by a mandatory one-year internship.

After completing the MBBS degree, physicians can enter the workforce or choose to specialize through Doctor of Medicine (MD)/Master of Surgery (MS), which are typically three-year degree programs, or pursue a two-year diploma program.

How many MBBS seats are there?

As of December 2023, there were 1,08,848 MBBS seats available, but demand far exceeds supply, with over a million applicants. The situation is even more dire at the postgraduate level, where only 68,000 seats are available for over 200,000 applicants.

This dire imbalance between supply and demand not only drives up the cost of training, but also forces many junior doctors to pursue their training abroad, in countries such as Russia, Ukraine and China.

In an interview with Hindustan Times Earlier this year, Mamta Purbey, who heads international student recruitment at Manipal’s American University of Antigua (AUA) College of Medicine, said that around 20,000 to 25,000 Indian students are entering medical school. These students are looking beyond “traditional English-speaking countries” and opting for lesser-known medical education options, due to the lack of places in India.

Quotas and reserved places in MBBS education

In the All India Quota (AIQ), up to 15 per cent of seats in each government medical college are reserved and allotted through counselling by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC). In 2021, the government announced that 27 per cent of AIQ seats would be reserved for Other Backward Classes (OBC) students and 10 per cent for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) students.

The seats are also allocated through a state quota.

The NTA reserves seats for Scheduled Castes (SC) (15 per cent), Scheduled Tribes (ST) (7.5 per cent) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) (27 per cent) candidates in the NEET, the qualifying exam for most medical courses in India. The NTA also reduces the application fee for candidates in these categories.

Rising Costs of Medical Education: An Alarming Trend

According to a recent report by CNBCTV18The reports, which cited analysts at Anand Rathi, a Mumbai-based financial services firm, predicted that the cost of an MBBS degree could rise from the current average of Rs 5 lakh to Rs 11 lakh by 2035, while postgraduate degrees could see a similar increase.

Despite a 110 percent increase in the number of MBBS places in the past decade, medical education fees have been rising at an annual rate of 11-12 percent, faster than inflation.

The high cost of private medical education and the limited availability of government places exacerbate the problem. Many students who do not get places in government colleges end up in private institutions where the costs are considerably higher. This in turn subsidizes the cost of health care provided in the compulsory hospitals attached to these colleges.

Safety of women in medical colleges: a growing concern

The recent rape and murder case of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata has led to outrage and concerns over the safety of women in medical institutions.

Several protests have broken out at hospitals across the country, demanding security measures and speedy justice for the victim’s family.

The situation was made worse when a medical college in Assam issued guidelines for female students and staff, including avoiding sparsely populated and poorly lit areas. Students were angry that the warning placed the responsibility for safety on women instead of addressing the problem. The college quickly withdrew its order.

Infrastructure of medical colleges and hospitals

Many staff and students took to social media to highlight the lack of infrastructure and facilities for doctors in medical facilities. This included the lack of a staff room to rest while doctors and staff were on duty for more than 24 hours a day. Doctors complained that they had to sleep on patient beds, if available, or had to go to the lobby, cafeteria or search for empty rooms. Staff also complained about the lack of staff toilets and amenities, saying that the places were not properly maintained or cleaned.

Many doctors also spoke about experiences of violence and unrest from patients’ relatives and the lack of security or trained guards.

Government initiatives and the way forward

In his Independence Day speech today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced plans to add 75,000 medical seats over the next five years. The move is aimed at making India a global education hub, attracting international students while easing the pressure on the current system.

However, increasing the number of seats may not be enough. A comprehensive approach is needed that includes reforms in the NEET system, stricter rules to prevent malpractice and significant investment in safety and infrastructure in medical colleges.