Reduce the cost of private medical education

Compared to the number of patients the number of medical practitioners in Bangladesh are much inadequate. There are not much medical college hospitals in the country as much as is needed. That’s why many medical students have to depend on private medical colleges. But the cost of study in private medical colleges is increasing again and again. In the academic year 2022-23, admission fees for MBBS and BDS in private medical colleges and dental colleges were increased by 20 percent. This year affiliate fees are increasing six times more, which is very unpleasant.

We come to know this from the newspapers on Sunday (14 July), Dhaka University (DU), the regulator of private educational institutions in the health sector, has recently revised the affiliation and renewal fees. The owners of the institutions are imposing the cost burden on the parents by deciding the tuition fees in accordance with their desires. According to reports, the affiliation cost of private medical and dental colleges has been increased from Tk 10 lakh to Tk 15 lakh.

Renewal cost has been increased 7.5 lakh taka from 5 lakh. The affiliation cost of Homeopathic Unani and Ayurvedic Medical College was 50 thousand takas only, but now its 3lakh taka, six times more. Besides, the affiliation and renewal cost of institutions conducting physiotherapy, rehabilitation, health technology, medical engineering courses has also been increased at the same rate. Public health analysts say that there is still no clear policy to determine the fees of these private educational institutions.

The guardians are clearly annoyed with this unrestrained tuition fees at these institutions due to poor supervision. According to news media, a student will have to spend more than 30 lakh takas to pass MBBS from a private medical college. And the question is, after spending this huge amount, when that student becomes a doctor, how many years will be needed getting back that money as his income?

Medical practice is a kindness job. It is also a profitable profession in the context of Bangladesh, no one disagrees with this. That's why many families want their children to be doctors even after spending a lot of money. And when they become a doctor, that money collect from their patient with much profit. This is one of the disordered sides of Bangladesh's medical system.

So, we demand, the cost of medical education at the private sectors should be reduced at first. A student should not have to take extra pressure for being a doctor. If he becomes a doctor with this process, he surely will make pressure on the patient later. For improving overall medical system, first it is necessary to reduce the cost of medical education at the private level.