Sharan Prakash R. Patil, Medical Education Minister, has said that from the next academic year, seats in medical colleges will be filled as per the Karnataka Professional Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission and Fixation of Fee) Act 2006. The government has written to the Chief Justice of the High Court of Karnataka to appoint retired High Court judges to the Fee Regulation Committee and the Admission Overseeing Committee.
Speaking to presspersons here on Thursday, the Minister said that he was expecting a response from the Chief Justice in a few days. “Once the appointments are made, the committees will start functioning. The Act will help regulate the fee structure and bring in transparency in seat allotment,” he said.
Besides, the law would ensure reservation for students from different categories in private medical colleges too. The colleges had to follow the Act and any violation would attract legal provisions. “Of course, the private colleges may refuse to offer seats to the government after the Act comes into effect. We are trying to find an alternative by setting up government medical colleges in all districts,” he said.
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The Minister said that the intention is to ensure quality education for poor students at affordable prices. As per a Supreme Court direction, medical colleges should not function as profit-making ventures. The fee structure should be based on the expenditure incurred by the managements in running their colleges.
The State government has sought the Medical Council of India’s approval for medical colleges in Gadag, Madikeri, Karwar, Chamarajanagar, Gulbarga and Koppal. A sum of Rs. 30 crore each had been allotted to these new colleges. The government will make rural service compulsory for all medical graduates. Those who obtain MBBS degree will have to work for a year in primary health centres and those who obtain post-graduation degree will work in community health centres. “Once this mandatory policy comes into effect, rural people will have access to health,” he said.
To a question on the delay in inaugurating the hi-tech hospital of the Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences, the Minister said that he would look into it and take action to complete the work soon.
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Later, the Minister visited the institute and reviewed construction work.
The former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and MLA H.D. Revanna accompanied the minister during his visit to the hospital.