Karnataka govt takes action against nursing schools charging exorbitant fees

Karnataka Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil on Monday ordered the constitution of a fee regulation committee to monitor and regulate fees of nursing colleges across the state, following complaints of allegedly exorbitant fees charged by these colleges.

During a review meeting of nursing institutions, Patil revealed that his office had received numerous complaints regarding exorbitant fees charged by nursing colleges, which were putting a heavy financial burden on students.

A newly constituted five-member fee regulation committee, headed by the joint secretary of the Department of Medical Education, will be tasked with monitoring the fee structures, he said.

“Revoke the Fundamental Certificate and Feasibility Certificate (EC&FC) of any nursing college found to be charging fees in excess of the limits set by the government,” Patil directed the department officials.

According to him, the current fee structure is Rs 10,000 per annum for students admitted under government quota, Rs 1 lakh under management quota and Rs 1.40 lakh for students from outside Karnataka.

There are 35,000 seats available in 611 nursing schools in the state.

Patil recently rejected a request from the nursing school management to increase fees by 20 per cent.

The committee’s oversight will cover both the undergraduate nursing and general nursing and midwifery (GNM) diploma programmes.

The Minister further directed the Principal Secretary Medical Education, Mohammed Mohsin, to convene a meeting with the Deputy District Commissioners to inspect the infrastructure and basic facilities in GNM colleges at the taluk and district levels.

The inspection reports are to be submitted within a month. In the case of B.Sc. nursing colleges, the Director of Medical Education, Dr. BL Sujatha Rathod, has been directed to constitute an inspection panel and submit the report immediately.

“We have received reports that many nursing colleges do not have necessary facilities like adequate teaching and non-teaching staff, libraries, laboratories and hygiene standards. Despite charging hefty fees, they do not provide the required facilities. The license of such colleges should be withdrawn if they are found guilty,” Patil said during the meeting.

The minister ordered officials to ensure that nursing institutions only provide nursing courses. “Revoke the permits of institutions that provide multiple courses in the same building,” he said.

(This story has not been edited by News18 team and is published from a PTI news agency feed)