NMC to medical colleges: Cap MBBS fees at 4.5 years academic duration; non-compliance to invite strict action

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has directed all medical colleges, institutions and universities to restrict MBBS course fees strictly to the prescribed academic duration of four-and-a-half years, warning that non-compliance will invite “serious” regulatory action.

The directive by the medical commission follows reports that several medical institutions were charging MBBS fees for the entire duration of five years or five-and-a-half years from medical students. It also stated that colleges were also demanding fees for the compulsory rotating medical internship period, which does not involve formal academic study.

The NMC, in an official statement, explained the MBBS course structure and said: “Section 10 and Section 24 of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, read with the Competency Based Medical Education (CBME) Guidelines, 2024 framed under the Graduate Medical Education Regulations (GMER), which prescribe that the duration of the MBBS course comprises 4½ years (54 months) of academic study, followed by one (01) year of compulsory rotating internship (CRMI).”

'MBBS fee structures should be non-exploitative'

Referring to the interim directions by the Supreme Court of India, the commission stated that the apex court in a related case addressed grievances such as non-payment of stipends and imposition of internship-related charges.

The Supreme Court in a landmark judgement stated that the fee structures must be reasonable, transparent, non-exploitative, and should correspond only to the academic facilities and services provided, NMC said.

“All Medical Colleges / Institutions / Universities are hereby directed that the fee for the MBBS course shall be charged only for prescribed academic duration of 4 1⁄2 years (four and a half years),” NMC added.