- By Yashashvi Tak
- Sun, 17 Aug 2025 11:30 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Odisha’s Private medical colleges have recently announced a steep hike in fees for MBBS and PG courses, delivering a blow to students aspiring to become doctors in the state. Three private institutions, Hi-Tech Medical College Bhubaneswar, Dreams Medical College Cuttack, and Hi-Tech Medical College Rourkela, have significantly raised their fee structures, with MBBS fees increasing by approximately 75 percent. This sudden hike has sparked strong reactions from both students and parents, who are now facing an unexpected financial burden.
Previously, government medical colleges had raised their enrollment fees three years ago. Now, this move by private colleges has further made medical education inaccessible, especially for poor and meritorious students. Already, many students were choosing to study abroad due to the high costs in India. The recent decision by private institutions is seen as an added financial strain on families.
Odisha Medical Colleges Fee Structure
For instance, the MBBS fee at Hi-Tech Medical College, Rourkela, which was Rs 5.5 lakh, has now increased to Rs 8.54 lakh for the 2025–26 academic session. Additionally, the college has introduced new PG fees, Rs 6.41 lakh for Paraclinical and Rs 12.81 lakh for Clinical courses. Dreams Medical College, Cuttack, has also revised its MBBS fees, increasing them from Rs 6.5 lakh to Rs 9.08 lakh.
The revised fee structure was announced following a notification from the Department of Skill Development and Vocational Education, and subsequently released by the OJEE Authority. However, parents are expressing serious concerns, particularly because the choice locking and filling process for counseling had already been completed based on last year's fee structure. The sudden hike, they argue, has disrupted their financial planning.
A parent from Anandpur in Kendrapara district voiced the frustration shared by many, stating that either the admissions should proceed under the old fee structure or the choice locking process should be reopened to allow students to reconsider their options.
Parents Reaction
The Odisha Parents' Federation has strongly opposed the fee hike. Its president, Vasudev Bhatt, criticised the move, comparing it to the imposition of an "American-style 75 percent tax" on education. He called the fee increase a form of educational commercialization and warned that the Federation is prepared to launch a strong protest if the decision is not reversed.