The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for admission to all medical colleges is needed to ensure that every meritorious, and not just moneyed, candidate has the opportunity to study medicine in this country, writes AKANSHA MEHTA
Although the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for admission to medical colleges was squashed last year, the controversy surrounding the examination refuses to die down. Neet was a brilliant piece of regulation, authored by the Medical Council of India. It came at a time when hopes about patient welfare were virtually lost.
In December, 2010, the MCI amended the 1997 Regulations on Graduate Medical Education to introduce Neet. With that, for the first time in Indian history, a benchmark was set for admission to medical colleges in India. The MCI made it mandatory for all students seeking admission to any medical college in the country to appear for this one centralised common entrance test, conducted under its own watchful eyes. Candidates had to secure a minimum of 50 per cent marks in each paper to be eligible for admission to any medical college, be it privately run or enjoying minority status or reeving Government aid.
To rein in the mayhem private medical colleges had created in the public health system, with misinterpretations of the landmark TMA Pai judgement which had liberalised the education sector, some decisive action was badly needed. In one stroke, the MCI was able to prevent the entry of unqualified, incompetent and incapable persons into the healthcare system. For example, private and minority institutes could no longer admit candidates who were not meritorious but fulfilled other other considerations.
The medical education business is a lucrative one. Just one batch of 100 MBBS students, with Rs 25 lakh capitation fee per head (apart from the tuition charges), can make a businessman richer by Rs 25 crore in the very first year of his setting up a medical college.
Naturally, when the MCI introduced Neet, the powerful private medical college lobby, flush with funds, did not sit quiet. It promptly took the case to court. Private and minority colleges argued that the restrictions on admitting students of their choice infringed on their fundamental rights contained in Article 19(1)(g) and 30(1) of the Constitution respectively.
The Supreme Court agreed and passed a controversial judgement in favour of the private medical college lobby. The Court also pointed out a number of technical faults in the MCI’s notification and declared that Neet violated Articles 19(1)(g), 25, 26, 29(1) and 30 of the Constitution of India.
Out of the three judges, one judge dissented. He felt that Neet did not violate any of the provision of the Constitution. According to him, the ruling of the Supreme Court’s 11 Judge Bench in the 2002 TMA Pai case, which was reinforced in 2005 by a seven Judge Bench in the PA Inamdar case, was misinterpreted by the honourable Bench. The Union Ministry of Human Resource Development and the MCI have moved the Supreme Court with a review petition which has been admitted but is yet to commence.
In the meantime, right under the nose of the Government and other statutory authorities constituted to regulate the fee structures of medical colleges, private institutions are demanding exorbitant amounts for admission. Reportedly, a student seeking admission to medical colleges this year will have to spend about one crore rupees to earn an MBBS degree. About Rs 35 lakh to Rs 50 lakh is charged as tuition fee while the remaining is taken by the institute in cash and usually off the books.
A private university in Chennai, is charging nine lakh rupees per annum for its five-year MBBS programme, while another is taking seven lakh rupees for the same course. Other private colleges are charging anything between three and five lakh rupees per annum. This does not cover additional expenses such as library fees, laboratory fees and hostel charges.
Students with impressive academic records are being denied the chance to pursue a medical career because they cannot afford a degree in medicine. So, they are moving to careers in engineering or management. This is worrisome.
The medical profession is being rapidly filled by people who are not necessarily well-qualified but had the money to pay for the degree. Such degrees, secured at an exorbitant cost, become a licence to make big money. Anxious to recover their investments, these new doctors may overlook their patient’s health. Patients, who put their health and lives in the hands of the doctor, have no say in the matter. The Government must rise to the occasion and protect public health.
All eyes are on the review petition pending with the Supreme Court. It is hoped that better sense will prevail and the Supreme Court will take cognizance of the fact that it is not just the religious and commercial rights of a few individuals that are at stake, but the larger issue of life and health of the citizens of India that must be taken into consideration.
(The writer is a student at the RMl National law University, lucknow)