ISLAMABAD: Contrary to directions of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), Akhtar Saeed Medical College has directed students to pay their fees by Monday or “face consequences”.

A sub-committee of the Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services had earlier ordered the PMDC to stop all private medical and dental institutions from collecting fees for the session 2024-25 until the committee chaired by the deputy prime minister decides on issues concerning tuition and other fees.

The body was constituted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to address the growing concerns of students and parents regarding the “excessive hike” in fees charged by medical and dental institutions across the country.

When asked for a comment, Akhtar Saeed Medical College Students Affairs Director Asim Anwar said that the students have been advised to deposit fees as the college also has to meet its expenses.

He said the committee’s orders would be implemented and the money would be refunded in case of a reduction in fees.

“We know that a committee has been deliberating the matter. We will fully implement the directions of the committee and in case of a reduction in the fees, we will adjust the additional amount in next year’s fee,” he said.

When asked how much a fresh candidate, who has been selected for the first year of MBBS has to pay, Mr Asim said that each student has to pay Rs2.76 million.

However, parents questioned the rationale for collecting fees in advance despite clear official instructions and adjusting it against next year’s fees.

In its notification, available with Dawn, the Akhtar Saeed Medical College stated that “all 2nd-year MBBS students must pay their outstanding fees before the commencement of classes on February 24, 2025.”

It warned that failure to clear dues will “result in a number of consequences”.

“No attendance will be marked for students who have not cleared their dues. They will not be allowed to attend classes or participate in academic activities until payment is made. All students are instructed to settle their dues immediately and submit proof of payment to the accounts department. Non-compliance will lead to further disciplinary actions,” it stated.

A student’s father, wishing not to be named, said that it was unfortunate that the college was not following the orders of the regulatory body i.e. the PMDC.

“Even a parliamentary committee has directed that the colleges cannot receive the fee till the outcome of the committee headed by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar which is currently deliberating the matter. The PMDC has informed the parliamentary committee that the recommendations for the fixation of fee have been sent to the committee headed by Mr Dar,” he said.

“The PMDC has also notified that the 90 per cent attendance for medical students is mandatory. The college is exploiting their vulnerability,” the parent said expressing his concerns.

It is worth mentioning that Senator Irfan Siddiqui also took up the issue last week and claimed that he has been receiving complaints from students that colleges were demanding fees from them despite official orders.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2025