Acting on the Supreme Court’s directive, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued a clear mandate to all private and deemed medical colleges across India to disclose their complete fee structure — including tuition fees, hostel charges, caution deposits, and miscellaneous costs — prior to the counselling process.
This decision follows an April Supreme Court judgment that highlighted serious concerns regarding non-disclosure of fees by private medical institutions. The Court had also raised issues related to non-payment of stipends and illegal internship fees in several colleges and issued interim directions to curb such practices.
Strict Compliance Required – Action Against Defaulters
In its latest notification, the NMC emphasized that non-compliance will attract strict regulatory action, which could include:
- Issuance of show-cause notices
- Financial penalties
- Withdrawal of course recognition
- Suspension of admissions
To ensure transparency and uniformity, the NMC has also circulated a Google Form for all institutions to submit their fee details in a standardized manner. This data will be used for official monitoring and public disclosure.
Stipend and Internship Fee Issues in Telangana Spotlighted
The directive comes as a relief, especially in states like Telangana, where medical interns in private colleges have been voicing concerns over delayed or denied stipends. Some institutions allegedly threatened students who protested against the non-payment or questioned the imposition of illegal internship-related charges.
Although some medical colleges have begun sharing their fee and stipend structures on the Intra MCC portal, the NMC noted that the information shared so far has been incomplete or non-standardized.
What This Means for Students
For medical aspirants, especially those preparing for counselling, this move is a significant win. The mandatory pre-counselling disclosure will help students and parents make informed decisions, avoid financial surprises, and seek fair treatment during internships.
