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The Supreme Court (SC) on Saturday ordered all medical colleges across the country to return collected fees in excess of Rs850,000 to students within 15 days.
The order was passed in a suo motu case being heard at the SC Lahore registry on exorbitant fees charged by medical colleges.
Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar warned that action would be taken against medical colleges not complying with the court's orders.
The court also stopped the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) from harassing medical college officials and adjourned the case until tomorrow.
The court also discussed the matter of medical colleges that were registered despite non-compliance with rules during the tenure of former Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) head Dr Asim.
The matter was referred to the FIA and the National Accountability Bureau, which were ordered to submit a report on the subject within a month.
Over the years, private medical colleges have increased fees by introducing a number of new charges, and have also accused of taking donations from students at the time of admissions.
The SC had in 2010 taken suo moto notice of the matter after which it was decided that the per student annual fee will be Rs550,000 which will be increased by 7pc in a year.
The fee was increased to Rs642,000 in 2013 but a number of promises private medical colleges had made ─ such as providing free treatment on 50pc of the beds in attached hospitals and some facilities for students ─ were not met.
In 2016, PMDC introduced a central induction system for students to stop private medical colleges from receiving donations but the colleges refused to implement this and obtained stay orders from various courts across the country.
The PMDC in 2017 started negotiations with the private colleges again and it was decided that the annual fee will be raised to Rs800,000 with the condition that they will provide all facilities and quality education to students and will not take donations from them.
Rana Bilal is a Lahore-based reporter for Dawn News (TV) with over nine years of experience covering legal affairs, justice-sector developments, and environmental issues. He can be found on X at @ranabilaldawn.
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Mar 24, 2018 05:28pm
Fair decision. PMDC had become a rip off!
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Mar 24, 2018 05:34pm
Atleast about Karachi there are medical colleges in Clifton owned by a famous politician who under different headings charges lofty amounts from students.Another money grabbing machine situated at Stadium Road also charges enormous figures from its students. There is a hospital too affiliated to this Stadium Road college, which was formed in Ziaul Haq era with a promises and perception that it will serve without discrimination across the board even handed, but quite opposite is their policy, they serve their community free, while all others are charged exorbitantly & horribly. CJP may please look into this commercial hospital which got land free from Ziaul Haq promising at that time to deliver as a non profit entity, but all opposite being done, and excessive amounts charged from people outside their community domain, they must be asked to adher to their promise and serve in uniformity,, not on selectivity.
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Mar 24, 2018 05:35pm
The question is: will the private medical colleges return the fee or will make excuses? Time will tell, weather or not another SC's rulling is implemented or will be treated like other rullings? Let's wait and see!
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Mar 24, 2018 05:40pm
Are they following their US or UK trends ?
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Mar 24, 2018 05:46pm
Dr Asim reminds automatically of Asif Zardari and one begins to understand level of mega corruption in ANY deal!!
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Mar 24, 2018 05:48pm
Highway robbery by the medical colleges in a poor country.
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Mar 24, 2018 05:53pm
Well done and bravo CJP, Long Live CJP, please also take on board private academies and schools who are also charging exorbitant fees.
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Mar 24, 2018 06:05pm
Private colleges are a choice if someone cannot pay the fee go to government colleges. SC has no business interfering in the operations of private colleges as long as they deliver what they promise.
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Mar 24, 2018 06:11pm
Just wonder if our PM was this concerned about common person.
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Mar 24, 2018 06:14pm
It is good to see that court system is working for average citizen of the country. Those powerful officials supported by many politicians had virtually destroyed the system. Tax payers money was used for benefit of powerful and rich only. Now its good to see those rich and powerful are being held accountable. Corrupt officials should be put in jail to stop the vicious cycle of destruction. Thank you.
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Mar 24, 2018 07:19pm
Run of the mill medical colleges, imagine students coming out of these colleges.We have been criticizing SC for meddling in the affairs of the institutions. No one until now took any notice. SC had to step in.
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Mar 24, 2018 07:42pm
Play and nursery classes are charging Rs.1200 per child per month. CJP to take notice of private schools of high fee charges.
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Mar 24, 2018 07:42pm
Bravo to Mr.Chief Justice. You have become heartthrob of common people. Unfortunately, our politicians instead of playing the role of their representatives, they themselves have become looters and mafia members. This issue should have been raised in our parliament to solve people's problems but instead it is being addressed by our respected judiciary. Thank you sir for being true representative of the people.
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Mar 24, 2018 07:48pm
There are money making machines installed in all our institutions through different means in the name of education, judiciary, law and security. It seems that corruption, hypocracy, fake news and dishonesty are the main factors and reasons of our current political and financial crisis. We have to change this mindset and make people aware of corrupt mafia and their practices!
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Mar 24, 2018 08:24pm
What about private schools, why supreme Court is not taking any notice for their extremely high fee..
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Mar 24, 2018 08:33pm
Thank you CJ!
Please carry on.
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Mar 24, 2018 08:40pm
@Political connoisseur The medical school you talk about is AKU. They complied with the fees as the above applies to local students and not foreign students. And they do help patients outside their domain of their community.
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Mar 24, 2018 08:46pm
What is the point of having a government if the supreme court is trying to fix all the ills of the nation!
Are the politicians just voted in to rob the nation of it's coffers?
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Mar 24, 2018 08:48pm
This is what happens when you turn education into a business... This is what have been happening in Pakistan not just with medicine but with every other discipline. Education was supposed to be about passion...
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Mar 24, 2018 08:49pm
Thanks CJP. We are with you for all of your good actions. The assemblies must also pass relative laws for all the CJP actions to prove they are for the betterment of common men.
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Mar 24, 2018 09:18pm
What about Aga Khan Medical College? My son from Saudi Arabia despite being born to Pakistani parents, has paid 31000 US dollars in first and second year of medical college. Is there a relief for hard working Pakistanis from abroad sending much needed foreign exchange to Pakistan in US dollars. Until what time they shall continue paying this hefty amount. Is there any justice?
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Mar 24, 2018 11:08pm
@Akeel Ahmed if you want to become Doctor, go to a proper Medical college (government owned). Private colleges are only made for rich and incompetent students. It’s all politics.
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Mar 24, 2018 11:52pm
The charges of Private hospitals in Pakistan are also very high and in other words they are looting the poor people. Sir kindly look into it because it is now left to the courts to decide on the matters affecting common people. The are no more educationists and healers and want to become riches over a night. Did FBR ever bothered to collect taxes from these looters.
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Mar 25, 2018 12:04am
Good job. Hurrah for Chief Justice .
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Mar 25, 2018 01:03am
@WM which world are you living!!! Private schools in Karachi are charging 17000 to 280000 for pre school and nursery classes
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Mar 25, 2018 02:16am
@Political connoisseur The AKUH is a world class hospital. One of the few in Pakistan where patients go as last resort. Imagine if it was never made in the first place and we would have to fly our loved ones to other countries to get treated. Health care all over the world in quiet expensive. The community gets a relative discount on the medial bill if they fall eligible (usually community members who cant afford). Let me also tell you that the community contributes millions in direct donations so even if the treatment was free whats wrong with it. I clearly remember there is a 15% across the board discount if patients fall eligible. This is the problem with our nation. Someone does something good for it and he/she is criticized.
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Mar 25, 2018 05:02am
That’s not his job - Stop interferring in Civil Administration. Very bad trend
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Mar 25, 2018 05:27am
@Political connoisseur There is a wtong persecption that Aga Khan hospital charges no fee to the its community.
Everyone is charged a fee. If one cannot afford the fee may be reduced after compitent evaluation process.
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Mar 25, 2018 06:30am
Not fair. It’s like saying Apple should only charge 100$ for IPhone.as long as students are aware of the fees and agree to it why should courts intervene? Medical education isn’t cheap. Running a medical college and hospital isn’t cheap either. This will force a lot of colleges to provide sub standard education or shut down all together.
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Mar 25, 2018 06:32am
We should be proud that we have so many universities. Caping the fee means caping the quality. Being doctor myself I have seen the quality of govt owned medical colleges they are pathetic.One has to be very lucky to survive in the hands of govt owned medical college graduates. CJP mind your own business please
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Mar 25, 2018 06:34am
great work by cj
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Mar 25, 2018 08:31am
Lets hope SC orders are obeyed by powerful owners of Pvt Medical Colleges,i have seen students living in miserable conditions inspite of paying hafty fees.
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Mar 25, 2018 10:07am
How about the fee AMC is charging from overseas Pakistanis? First year $12500 and onwards $10000 plus other charges for hostels.
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Mar 25, 2018 12:08pm
Dow International Medical College (DIMC) Karachi is charging US$ 18,000 per year from overseas Pakistani. This is totally unfair. Please CJP, look into this well.
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Mar 25, 2018 12:41pm
Dow International Medical College (DIMC) Karachi - They charged USD 18000.00 plus other admission charges from overseas Pakistani for first year student. In accordance with the current ruling of CJP; this exceeds the ceiling of rupees 850,000 established by the SC. DIMC needs to look into this matter and as instructed must resolve and refund the excess amount. Further more, stream line the fee structure for next year.
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