If the strength of a State is to be measured by the number of medical colleges it has, then Tamil Nadu can compete with the best in the ring. It has among the most number of medical colleges: 18 government colleges and 22 private medical colleges (including deemed universities).
When it comes to getting a seat in private medical colleges, however, money rules. The going rate for an MBBS seat is stated to be between Rs. 40 and 50 lakh. A private BDS (dental) seat costs about Rs. 6 lakh.
As far as postgraduate seats go, the rate varies between Rs. 50,000 and Rs. 3 crore, depending on the course one picks. Clinical courses usually demand the maximum ‘capitation’ fee, while non- clinical subjects are at the bottom of the pile.
The top grosser is radiology, said to cost anything between Rs. 1.5 crore and Rs. 3 crore. The payments are, of course, ‘off the record.’
(ramya.kannan@thehindu.co.in)
