OJEE announces fees hike for MBBS, BDS courses; Medicos get upset

Odisha medical aspirants are upset over the fees hike announced by Odisha Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE) for MBBS, BDS and super-speciality courses.

Odisha Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE) has announced an increase in fees for MBBS, BDS and super-speciality courses. At a time when, the demand is rising for medical education fees in India to be regulated to make it more affordable especially after the Ukraine crisis, the Odisha medical aspirants are upset over the fee hike.

The total fees for MBBS/BDS course have been increased to INR 37950 from INR 29694.

Demand is growing to make Indian medical education affordable

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik recently urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and help the students return from Ukraine so that they can continue their studies here and now the Odisha government has hiked the fees for MBBS/BDS by 28% and super speciality by 49%. 

Recently, Naveen Shekharappa's father also requested Prime Minister Modi to make higher education affordable for middle-class families.

Reportedly, the medical students' union has also raised objections against the decision of the state government and said that several meritorious aspirants from poor families won't be able to pursue the medical courses after the revision of admission fees.

The General Secretary of Odisha Medical Services Association (OMSA), Dr Biswajit Samal said, "Currently, the price of every essential item is on rise. Amid this, if the government hikes the admission fees, it will snowball several issues. Instead of reducing admission fees to facilitate medical education to more students who would otherwise travel to countries like Ukraine to study, the government is raising the fee which is extremely unfortunate," as reported by Odisha TV. 

Read more:

• Quality medical education must be provided at affordable cost: Naveen's father to PM Modi
• Naveen Patnaik urges PM Modi to help Indian medical students from Ukraine