Opposition Criticizes Punjab Governments MBBS Fee Hike, Calls It Unfair to Students and Families

Chandigarh, August 9: A political controversy has erupted in Punjab over the state government’s decision to increase MBBS fees. Senior leader of the Shiromani Akali Dal, Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema, has strongly criticized this move, labeling it as unjust to deserving students and middle-class families.

In a statement shared on the social media platform ‘X’, Dr. Cheema revealed that the total tuition fee for the MBBS program in government medical colleges has been raised by 8.5% for the academic year 2026-27. The fee for the five-and-a-half-year MBBS course has increased from ₹9.98 lakh to ₹10.83 lakh.

He pointed out that the burden of fee hikes in private medical colleges is even heavier. The fee for the government quota has surged by 17.4%, rising from ₹21.48 lakh to ₹25.22 lakh. Meanwhile, the management quota fee has escalated from ₹55.25 lakh to ₹64.71 lakh.

Dr. Cheema emphasized that this decision comes at a time when thousands of young doctors are facing temporary employment and an uncertain future after years of hard work. He claimed that many doctors in government service are earning only around ₹50,000 per month.

He questioned what message the Punjab government intends to send to its talented youth. On one hand, medical education is becoming increasingly expensive, while on the other, doctors are not receiving the respect and opportunities they deserve.

The Akali leader stated that this issue transcends mere fee increases; it concerns access to vocational education, social justice, retaining medical talent in the state, and the future of Punjab’s healthcare system.

He urged the government to make medical education more affordable, provide respectable and secure employment opportunities for doctors, and ensure that deserving students are not forced to compromise their dreams due to financial constraints.

Dr. Cheema warned that Punjab cannot afford a situation where its best medical talents are compelled to leave the state or the country in search of better opportunities after acquiring costly education.

He called for an immediate review of the fee hike decision, relief for students and parents, and the formulation of a comprehensive policy to make medical education accessible and enhance the attractiveness and respectability of government medical services.