In a joint memorandum to the Central Council of Health and Family Welfare, the Cabinet members called upon the Centre to move the Supreme Court in order to amend the free structure prescribed by the Apex Court before the ensuing academic session.

The common memorandum assumes significant political importance, since these States are ruled by different political parties. While the Sena-BJP alliance is ruling Maharashtra, the Congress, Telugu Desam and Janata Dal are governing Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka respectively.

``Despite our strong political differences, on improving (the) standard of medical education, we are unanimous. We will ensure that drastic changes are made in the field of medical education in atime-bound period,'' Aher remarked.

Disposing of a special leave petition filed by P Unnikrishan against Andhra Pradesh, the Supreme Court had prescribed a comprehensive fee structure for admission to MBBS courses. Accordingly, 50 per cent of the seats in private medical colleges are free seats, while the remaining 50 per cent, including 15 per cent reserved for Non-Resident Indians, are payment seats. While the initial fee for the payment seat was Rs one lakh, for NRI seat, it was Rs five lakh.

According to the Maharashtra Health Minister, Daulatrao Aher, if the NRI quota is hiked from 15 per cent to 25 per cent, then it will be possible to abolish payment seats. ``In that event, the fees should be restructured in such a manner, so that the entire cost of payment seats can be recovered from the NRIs and it will enable managements to run colleges efficiently,'' Aher added.

Aher said that at the two day meeting of the council, the Medical Education and Health Ministers felt that the Centre should takethe initiate to move the Apex Court for the purpose. So far as the Sena-BJP Government is concerned, Aher said it has already submitted an affidavit before the Supreme Court. ``We have suggested that the present scheme of 50 per cent free seats and 50 per cent payment seats be modified to provide for 80 per cent free seats and 20 per cent NRI,'' he added.

On representation on the Medical Council of India, Aher said that following the establishment of Medical Universities in several states, the representation on the MCI has been reduced to one. ``Earlier, each medical faculty of each non-agricultural university could send one nominee. We have suggested that the representation on the MCI should be so modified, so as to make it proportional to the number of medical students in each state,'' he said.

Expressing concern over the erosion of medical teachers all over the country, Aher said the Cabinet members of the four states recommended setting up of a Medical Universities Grants Commission, which will workout the remuneration pattern and pay scale for medical teachers.

In view of the paucity of trained medical staff for rural and backward areas, the four states demanded immediate reorganisation of the post graduate courses and internship periods. ``We suggested that the post graduation course be drafted in such a manner that it will be mandatory for the student to complete one year rural posting before he enters third year of post graduation,'' Aher said.

Under the revised plan, the total duration of PG course will be of four years. In the second year, the student will be appointed as Medical Officer and first two years and the last year will be spent by as a resident in the medical college.