IITs and IIMs may be influenced by AIIMS fee structure
The synopsis
In an effort to enhance the revenue generating potential of AIIMS across India, the AIIMS fee structure for medical education at AIIMS may be altered and styled similar to that at IITs and IIMs, as recommended at the AIIMS’ Chintan Shivir in August.
According to the recommendations made at the AIIMS’ “chintan shivir” held in August, the AIIMS fee structure for medical education at AIIMS across India may be altered to resemble IITs and IIMs in order to increase revenue generation.
As part of the “shivir,” various topics were discussed, including ways to reduce government dependence on funding and improve healthcare services at all AIIMS.
A health ministry official told PTI that the ministry is in the process of forming a committee to study these recommendations and determine what level of increase is possible.
One recommendation suggests revising the fee structure of courses such as MBBS, post-graduation, and nursing education to enhance the revenue generation potential of the premier institute, the source said.
About Rs 6,500 is the current cost of the MBBS program at AIIMS fee structure.
An MBA degree or postgraduate degree at an IIM costs Rs 24–25 lakh, whereas a BTech degree at an IIT costs Rs 10–12 lakh, and a MTech degree costs Rs 3 lakh.
It is also recommended that AIIMS fee structure expand the number of private wards and convert a third of its regular ward beds into special wards. In order to increase revenue, AIIMS should create a committee to review the fees charged to both paying and non-paying patients.
In addition, they recommended creating a mechanism to identify beneficiaries under AB-PMJAY, state government schemes, CGHS, ECHS, and Railways to contribute to the revenue pot.
There is also a possibility of piloting a cross-subsidization model whereby the poor will receive free services and those who will opt for paid services will receive services according to their entitlements, according to the recommendations. Additional revenue generation can be achieved by adding ancillary services and support services.
AIIMS facilities may also collaborate with reputed institutions like IITs and IIMs to run collaborative research and education rather than duplicating resources and straining the exchequer, said a source.
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi received Rs 4,190 crore in the annual budget announced for 2022-23.
Among the 23 AIIMS fee structure, some are fully operational, some are partially operational, and some are under construction.
AIIMS fee structure in Graduation
PMSSY phase 1 approved six new AIIMS – AIIMS Delhi, Bihar (Patna), Chhattisgarh (Raipur), Madhya Pradesh (Bhopal), Odisha (Bhubaneswar), Rajasthan (Jodhpur) and Uttarakhand (Rishikesh) – and they are all operational. The AIIMS were established between 2015 and 2022, and 10 institutes have opened MBBS and outpatient departments, while two other institutes have only started MBBS classes. The remaining four institutions are currently in different stages of development.
The cost of an MBBS course at AIIMS is currently $7,500, while an MBA or postgraduate degree at an IIM costs about 24-25 lakh, while pursuing a BTech at an IIT costs about 10-12 lakh and an MTech costs about 3 lakh.
In accordance with the recommendation made at AIIMS’ ‘Chintan Shivir’ held in August, the fee structure for medical education at AIIMS across India is likely to be revised and modeled after IITs and IIMs.
A number of topics were discussed at the ‘shivir’, according to the news agency PTI, including how to improve healthcare services at all AIIMS and identify a sustainable revenue generation model to reduce government funding dependence.
According to an official source, the union health ministry is finalizing a committee that will study the feasibility of these recommendations and determine the level of increase that can be achieved.
To augment the revenue-generating potential of the premier institute, one recommendation suggested revising the fee structure of courses such as MBBS, post-graduation, and nursing education.
An MBBS course at AIIMS costs around 6,500, whereas an MBA or postgraduate degree at an IIM costs about 24-25 lakh, while a BTech degree at an IIT costs about 10-12 lakh, and a master’s degree costs about 3 lakh.
Additionally, a third of AIIMS general ward beds should be converted into special wards and private wards should be increased. Also, a committee should be formed to revise AIIMS charges for non-paying and paying patients in order to enhance revenue generation.
The official also recommended identifying beneficiaries of the AB-PMJAY, state government schemes, CGHS, ECHS, railways, and any other government-linked schemes to contribute to the revenue kitty.
An alternative model of cross subsidization is also possible, where the poor receive free services while those who opt for paid services receive services according to their entitlements. The recommendations also stated that ancillary services and support services can be used to generate additional revenue.
There is also a suggestion to collaborate with reputed institutes like IITs and IIMs so as to run collaborative research and education instead of duplicating resources and straining the exchequer, sources informed PTI.
